Ford has just put the most powerful F-150 pickup truck ever built on sale, and it is poised to do battle with the current hottest truck on the planet — the Ram 1500 TRX. So how does the newest member of the Ford F-150 Raptor R lineup compare to the vehicle that claims to be the apex predator of all trucks? The duel between these two incredibly capable trucks promises to be one of the most intense in history. Who will win bragging rights?  And how will they keep them? We’ll have some answers for you in this edition of “America on the Road.”

In the road test segment, Co-host Chris Teague will draw on his inner billionaire as he puts the Mercedes-Benz S 580 sedan through its paces. Many reviewers think the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the best sedan in the world. And we’ll find out what Teague thinks from his home base in Maine.

Across the United States, Host Jack Nerad road tested a vehicle with a California sensibility. The battery-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV has been heavily revised and Nerad will offer his reaction. One big piece of news revolving around the car is a giant price drop. The question is, does the lower price make the Bolt EV a great value? And how does it compare to the closely related Chevrolet Bolt EUV small crossover? Nerad and Teague will deliver their thoughts on that and much more.

For those seeking to buy a new car, our interview guest this week has some good news. Our special guest is Mike Darrow, CEO and President of TrueCar. His company is in the process of launching a new initiative that is designed to make car buying much easier, and we’ll have details. So stick around for that.

In the news this week, an iconic car model is just about to celebrate its fiftieth birthday. The Honda Civic was introduced five decades ago and it is now in its eleventh generation. More than 12.3 million Civics have been sold in the U.S. since its debut here in 1973. We reminisce about Civics of old and talk about the all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type R in this episode.

2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R comes to showrooms this fall.