Andy Lilienthal on Muck Rack

Andy Lilienthal

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(He/Him)
Portland
As seen in: MSN, Yahoo Life, Digital Trends, Flipboard, MotorTrend, Yahoo, The Drive, The Truth About Cars, NewsBreak, GearJunkie and
Covers:  Anything related to automotive, adventure travel, and related.

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Andy Lilienthal’s Biography

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I’m a freelance writer who specializes in all things automotive. I have written professionally since 2001 and continue to freelance. My works include writing and photography for a host of publications ranging from off-road print magazines, to new-car reviews online. I’m also a photographer who has had images in multiple magazines, blog sites, and the New York Times. My automotive knowledge has made me a SME (subject matter expert) on many things automotive, and I’ve appeared in the New York Tim…

Andy Lilienthal’s Journalist Portfolio

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2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Long-Distance Review: Alcan 5000 Rally Adventure

2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Long-Distance Review: Alcan 5000 Rally Adventure

I entered a 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport in the Alcan 5000 Summer Rally to find out what I liked and didn't…

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The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: A Small and Mighty Approach to Adventure Vehicles

The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: A Small and Mighty Approach to Adventure Vehicles

My wife, fellow writer Mercedes Lilienthal, and I decided to run the TransAmerica Trail (TAT) in June of 2025…

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Epic Overland Cross-Continent Adventure in a Subaru Crosstrek

Epic Overland Cross-Continent Adventure in a Subaru Crosstrek

Can a slightly modified Subaru Crosstrek travel the 7,100 miles across the TransAmerica Trail? This overland …

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Overlanding Iceland: The Lilienthal Redemption Adventure

Overlanding Iceland: The Lilienthal Redemption Adventure

Iceland is an iconic overlanding destination. From glaciers and mountains to rivers and canyons, there is a s…

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The INEOS & The Alcan: An Epic 5,000 Miles Rally in a Grenadier

The INEOS & The Alcan: An Epic 5,000 Miles Rally in a Grenadier

This multi-page feature garnered both front and rear covers of the Fall 2024 issue of Wheels Afield. It chron…

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Road Rally Review: Driving a Volkswagen ID. Buzz for 5,000 miles through Europe

Road Rally Review: Driving a Volkswagen ID. Buzz for 5,000 miles through Europe

In 2017, VW displayed a retro electric van concept with a retro style, harkening back to the iconic T2 Transp…

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Articles

How Our 2022 Subaru Crosstrek Went From Stock Daily Driver to Fully Modified Adventure Rig in Four Years

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By Andy Lilienthal Verified
| OVRmag Verified
In 2022, we bought a Subaru Crosstrek with a simple mission: Create a reliable, capable daily driver for cross-country trips without heavy modifications. That plan lasted about four years—or rather, it evolved into something much more capable. From suspension upgrades and armor to roof racks and recovery gear, here’s how our stock Crosstrek transformed into a rally-ready adventure rig while remaining dependable for daily duty.
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Mitsubishi Eclipse Sportback EV Debuts; Uses Nissan Leaf Underpinnings

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By Andy Lilienthal Verified
| crankshaftculture.com
Mitsubishi released images of its next new vehicle, the 2027 Eclipse Sportback EV. Based on the Nissan Leaf, but with revised styling, the ’27 Eclipse Sportback will include Mitsubishi-specific items such as a unique front fascia, lighting signature, and “sport-inspired elements,” according to the automaker’s press release. Mitsubishi says the new Eclipse Sportback will be hitting U.S. and Canadian dealers in the summer of 2026. That means this vehicle will show up very soon.
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10 of the Coolest Rigs From Overland Expo West 2026

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By Andy Lilienthal Verified
| GearJunkie Verified
Overland Expo West is the mother of all North American overland rallies, held in Flagstaff, Ariz. Started in 2009, the show brings in overlanding enthusiasts, travelers, instructors, and vendors alike. According to Overland Expo, this year there were 420 exhibitors, 132 instructors, and 28,500 attendees from all 50 states and 21 countries. At the heart of the event were some of the coolest vehicles you can travel in.
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Awards

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Alcan 5000 Winter Rally

2024 - 2024 - 1st place 2 SOP Truck/SUV Class (plus Arctic and Go Farther awards)

Out of 17 talented truck and SUV teams, my wife and navigator, Mercedes Lilienthal and I came out on top piloting an INEOS Grenadier Trialmaster 4x4 and won the 2024 Alcan 5000 Rally 2S class. We led the truck/SUV class seven of the 10 days and came in 10th overall, out of 39 total teams. We also earned the rally's Arctic and Go Farther awards. This year's extreme endurance rally covered approximately 5,000 miles of snow- and ice-covered roads throughout Washington state, all over British Columbia, parts of Alberta and the Northwest Territories (to Yellowknife), over to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, then to Fairbanks, Alaska, an optional jaunt to Coldfoot above the Arctic Circle, a dip down to Valdez (after Thompson Pass reopened), then to its finish in Anchorage—all within 10 days. We partnered with INEOS Automotive for this event.

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TAWA Texas Truck Invitational winner

2023 - Reviews

2023 TAWA Texas Truck Invitational: Top Pick and overall winner (Adventure Rigs Magazine)2023 TAWA Texas Truck Invitational: Top Pick and overall winner (Adventure Rigs Magazine) TAWA is the Texas Auto Writers Association.

TAWA Excellence in Craft Competition Winner

2023 - Social Media

1st place Social Media (co-managed Crankshaft Culture social media with my wife, Mercedes Lilienthal, daily social media reels depicting the life of a summer Alcan 5000 Rally competitor through the eyes of our 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness and us. TAWA is the Texas Auto Writers Association.

MPG (Motor Press Guild) Best News Article - "Registration Revoked"

2022 - Best News Article

Motor Press Guild's Best News Article went to "Registration Revoked" which was published on GearJunkie.com. This article talked about how the state of Maine was revoking the registrations of Mitsubishi Delica owners in that state.

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2021 Texas Auto Writers Association Excellence in Craft Competition

2021 - Review

Stars vs. Space: Dueling Delicas of the 1908s and 1990s, by Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal., Article appeared in the July/August 2021 issue of TREAD Magazine (print feature).

Texas Auto Writers Association Excellence In Craft Competition

2021 - Social Media

First place, Social Media (three examples of social content about the same vehicle): Alcan 5000 Rally and Mitsubishi Pajero Recap by Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal of Crankshaft Culture.

Finalist: Motor Press Guild (MPG) Awards

2020 - Social Media

One of three finalists for the 2020 Motor Press Guild "Best Social Media " award. The recognition was for the Crankshaft Culture feed of social media found at http://instagram..com/crankshaftculture.

Portland Business Journal Social Media Madness

2013 - Best Social Media

Warn Industries beat out KGW News to win the Large Company category of the Portland Business Journal's 2013 Social Media Madness competition.

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