Author: kirklandc008@gmail.com

When the Toyota RAV4 first arrived on American shores in the mid-1990s, it was something of an oddball — a small, unassuming vehicle that blended car-like handling with SUV-inspired versatility. Few could have predicted that this quirky compact crossover would go on to reshape the automotive landscape and become a dominant force in the U.S. market. Fast-forward to today, and the RAV4 isn’t just a staple on American roads—it’s the best-selling non-pickup vehicle in the country, outselling even Toyota’s own legendary Camry sedan. The RAV4’s journey from niche experiment to mainstream giant is a masterclass in reading market trends, responding…

In the world of pickups, the most popular configuration is the full-size truck. Models belonging to this sub-segment include the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500. The midsize sub-segment sits just below the larger trucks, including rigs such as the Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline, and others. The popularity of midsize trucks has soared over the last decade or so. The Chevrolet Colorado and the Ford Ranger nameplates returned to take advantage of the newfound popularity, as both monikers briefly retired during the 2010s. Before the Colorado went away for a while, Chevy decided to give it a send-off that…

The biggest car news and reviews, no BS Our free daily newsletter sends the stories that really matter directly to you, every weekday. Rivian’s RAD vehicles promise major upgrades. RAD, or Rivian Adventure Department, will focus on significant hardware improvements, not just cosmetic changes. Performance and excitement are prioritized. RAD aims to enhance on-road and off-road capabilities, making vehicles more dynamic and adventurous. Inspired by motorsports and adventure. RAD vehicles will feature unique designs and performance elements, drawing inspiration from motorsports. RAD is Rivian’s skunkworks division. Similar to BMW’s M or Mercedes AMG, RAD focuses on pushing vehicle performance to…

Xiaomi has unveiled a home robotic arm charger that autonomously plugs and unplugs your EV — delivering on a concept that Tesla prototyped over a decade ago but never brought to market. The compact device, only 152 mm wide, is designed to fit in tight home garage parking spaces and integrates into Xiaomi’s smart home ecosystem for smartphone control. Tesla’s unfulfilled promise In December 2014, Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla was working on “a charger that automatically moves out from the wall & connects like a solid metal snake.” He added: “For realz.” By August 2015, Tesla showed a functional…

Summer is approaching, which means it’s time to enjoy some gloriously warm weather beside the grill. But let me pitch you on an alternative: Instead of the usual burgers, hot dogs, and kebabs, what if you made pizza? I’ve been doing this for a few years now, and while I still love to grill, it no longer compares to pulling pies from my Ooni Fyra 12.A pizza oven previously seemed to me like something reserved for staunch enthusiasts. I never would have considered buying one myself, because for many years I believed that I hated pizza — the British food…

Pictures of the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse

Plus, Summer Fame Fest and plenty of phone news. Apple In the run up to Apple’s big developer shindig, the rumor mill suggested we’d not see too many big new features. Instead, this year’s focus was on tidying up what went before, trimming bloat and making code more efficient. The new operating systems are designed to run faster and more efficiently, giving a new lease of life to older hardware. It’s a laudable choice, and you can catch up with everything the company announced in our round up. At the same time, Devindra Hardawar praises Apple’s…

There are certain automotive propulsion technologies that represent an almost holy grail mythos, built with copious amounts of unobtainium, like an internal-combustion engine that runs on tap water. There was a time when hydrogen fuel cells appeared out of reach, too, until Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai figured out how to bring them to mass market, sort of. Both General Motors and Stellantis officially canceled their fuel-cell programs last year. If the running joke about hydrogen was that fuel-cell cars were always 10 years in the future, then it could be said that EVs powered by next-generation solid-state batteries have always…

Every automotive enthusiast with a pulse recalls the sizzling Genesis Magma GT Concept the company revealed in November 2025. A surprise reveal during the GV60 Magma launch, the mid-engine sports car basically stole the show. Now, we’re getting another surprise from Genesis. It’s not a new concept – not entirely, anyway. But it shows the luxury brand is very serious about its promise for a production version and a GT3 racing program. Say hello to the evolved version of Genesis Magma GT Concept, and its new racing protégé, the Magma GT3 Concept. Magma GT 2.0: Same Great Lines With A…

The traditional foundation that has built the relationship between automotive service and repair shops and their parts distributor partners is shaky, according to data results published in the May issue of Jobber News. Check out the issue for the latest Annual Shop Survey, where trends suggest that shops are expanding their purchasing sources, raising concerns over quality and more. Even the desire for the human element is trending downward. We have the full results. Pricing changes are a pain in the side of supplier partners. Customers understand the need for increases, but as Kumar Saha explains, the way it’s communicated…