The structure is carbon fiber. The twin-turbo V8 making 612 horsepower has only 3,384 pounds to move. It’s so exclusive you may never see one in person. A true canyon carver, the McLaren GT is the most practical car the company makes, versatile enough to haul a set of golf clubs. But no, it won’t replace your SUV or minivan. It remains a McLaren and that means it’s different from anything else out there. Tom Voelk checks out a 2021 model

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 392 pumps out 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. In other words, it can dust more than a few sports cars in a drag race. And the engine note is glorious.  Yes, for the first time in nearly 40 years, there’s a V8 in a Wrangler (technically the Wrangler has only been around since 1986 so let’s graciously fold the CJ into the model line). Tom Voelk checks out this monster of a Wrangler and finds it’s all fun until the road turns twisty. Oh, and there’s fueling up too. Plus that price…

Honda’s new 11th generation Civic is very good. How good? Tom Voelk takes a 2022 Civic Touring on a 700 mile weekend getaway to Walla Walla, Washington to check out the comfort, quietness, fuel efficiency and Bose Centerpoint audio system to see if it’s best-in-class (because Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra and Volkswagen Jetta want your money too). It’s a full look at the best Civic ever plus a little bit of Washington wine country thrown in for good measure.

Lexus makes some very desirable vehicles but has been criticized over its trackpad user interface. Starting with the 2022 NX, it all changes. The new Lexus Interface (no there’s no fancy name) eliminates the touchpad, it’s touchscreen only. It’s also adds casual voice recognition commands plus imbeds Amazon Music and Apple Music right into the system. And the NX will have phone-as-key technology that can be shared with up to 7 users. Tom Voelk talks to Toyota Connected leads Steve Basra and Charan Lota in Plano, Texas to find out what’s new, why it’s better and how the new user interface came to be.

Affordable cars can be some of the most difficult vehicles for automotive engineers to produce. The Nissan Kicks is budget done right. Fast? No sir. Opulent? No ma’am. But it’s stylish, comfortable, fuel efficient and comes with plenty of active electronic safety tech. The 2021 models gets some updates and for those that can’t afford a luxury ride (or simply don’t want to) it’s a solid choice. Cross shop Kia Soul, Hyundai Venue and Toyota CH-R. Tom Voelk checks out a fully-loaded top trim SR model and says go easy on the extras, you won’t miss them.   

The 2021 Ford Bronco is an exceptionally done SUV with tech to help it conquer the trails. Tom Voelk heads out with Ford Off-Roadeo instructor Jonny Van Wagoner to see how Trail Turn Assist, One Pedal Drive and Trail Control make things easier when navigating the tough stuff. And Bronco’s sway bar disconnect has a trick that off-roader will appreciate.

The 2021 Bronco 2 and 4 door is finally arriving at Ford dealerships. At the Texas Off-Roadeo just outside of Austin, Tom Voelk drives it both on and off road. On pavement, he gets behind the wheel of an Outer Banks model. On the Off-Roadeo “Ghost Pepper” course, he pushes a base 2-door with the Sasquatch package of and down steep rocks. There’s a lot packed into this video. Tom attended a manufacturer’s event for this experience, opinions are his own.

Many automotive enthusiasts feel sports cars simply must have a manual transmission and the Porsche 718 GT4 comes standard with a very good six-speed. But the quickest way around a track is with the 7-speed dual-clutch Doppelkupplung gearbox. You may know it as the legendary PDK with eye-blink gear swaps. At least there’s no argument that the naturally aspirated 4-liter flat-6 Boxer engine making 414 horsepower sounds like a symphony. Tom Voelk checks out a Euro-spec 718 GT4 and says buy the one that works for you. And let’s not forget, some people find the gearing in the 6-speed manual to be little tall.

There are a lot ways to look at plug-in hybrids. Audi’s Q5 55 TFSI e (AKA plug-in hybrid) appears to be the Goldilocks choice in so many ways. It’s nearly as powerful as the SQ5 performance model. And after tax credits, it can cost the same as the gas-only Q5 55. And for those who worry about electric range, it offers the luxury of switching to gasoline for those unexpected cross country road trips. Tom Voelk takes a look at a 2021 mid-level Premium Plus model. NOTE- 2022 models will get a larger battery pack if you want extra EV range.  

It’s no secret that 3-row SUVs and crossovers have replaced family vans in driveways throughout America. Nissan finally has a solid competitor with the 5th generation 2022 Pathfinder. Everything has been rethought and improved including the transmission. Yes, the CVT is gone! Mated to the 3.5-liter V6 is a ZF 9-speed gearbox. But the best part for buyers is how Nissan offers up features and tech on affordable models, no need to buy the top trim to get a bird’s eye camera view system. Tom Voelk travels to Montana for a deep dive on a machine that should sere families well.