Test Miles

For years, Subaru owners have insisted they weren’t anti-EV. They just didn’t want the EVs that were being offered. They wanted something practical and capable, with standard all-wheel drive, enough ground clearance for a snowy driveway or a muddy trailhead, and room for dogs, camping gear, and the kind of everyday clutter that seems to follow active families everywhere. It turns out Subaru was listening.

The Rivian R2 isn’t just another new electric SUV. It’s the vehicle Rivian hopes will take it from an enthusiast favorite to a mainstream automaker. When Rivian launched the R1T pickup and R1S SUV, it proved the company could build compelling electric vehicles. What it didn’t prove was whether Rivian could move beyond a niche audience willing to spend luxury-car money on an electric adventure vehicle. That’s the challenge facing the R2.

The Rivian R2 may be the most important vehicle Rivian has ever built. That sounds dramatic, but in this case, it is not an exaggeration. The R1T pickup and R1S SUV proved that Rivian could design desirable electric adventure vehicles with real personality, real capability, and a loyal following. The R2 has a different job. It has to take all of that brand appeal and make it work for far more people. This is Rivian’s mainstream test.

Ford marks America’s 250th anniversary with employee pricing, connecting today’s car deals to the long road from wagon wheels to electric SUVs. America is preparing to turn 250, which means fireworks, flags, cookouts, parades, and the annual American ritual of wondering whether this is finally the year to buy a new car.

Automakers love special editions. Some get unique wheels, a few badges, and a higher price tag before disappearing after the initial fanfare. It’s easy to be skeptical whenever a new collaboration is announced. The Ford Bronco Filson could have fallen into that trap. After talking with Filson Chief Creative Officer Alex Carleton, it became clear that this partnership works because both brands believe in building products that are meant to be used rather than admired from a distance.

Operation Frodo EV is not really a story about electric vehicles. It is a story about one beagle named Frodo and one rescue that was supposed to be simple. Animal Rescue Rigs owns and runs Operation Frodo, a cross-country rescue mission created to move dogs from overcrowded Midwest rescues toward foster homes, adopters, and rescue partners in the West.

Audi Nuvolari debuts as Audi’s fastest and most powerful production car, pairing a V8 with three electric motors and Formula 1 technology. Audi has spent years making fast cars feel calm, polished, and slightly better dressed than everyone else in the parking lot. The Audi Nuvolari is not that kind of car. This is Audi taking off the tailored jacket, rolling up its sleeves, and reminding the world that German engineering can still misbehave.

Ford and Filson seem like an unlikely pair at first glance. One builds vehicles. The other builds rugged outdoor gear. Yet both brands eventually realized they were attracting many of the same customers. That shared connection ultimately led to the Bronco Filson. During the reveal, we spoke to Haley Skiko, Bronco Brand Manager at Ford. She shared how the partnership came together, why Bronco owners keep asking for something unique, and how a simple LinkedIn message helped turn an idea into reality.

For years, Volkswagen seemed caught between two very different futures. On one side was the company’s long-established reputation for practical German engineering, affordable family transportation, and iconic vehicles that built generations of loyal customers. On the other side was an aggressive industry-wide push toward electrification that often left consumers uncertain about what Volkswagen actually wanted to become. Now, the company appears to be finding a clearer direction.

Ford has never been shy about leaning into the Bronco’s adventurous image, but its latest special edition takes that strategy a step further. The automaker has teamed up with outdoor outfitter Filson to create the first-ever Bronco Filson, a vehicle that blends off-road capability with a brand long associated with life in the wilderness. The collaboration isn’t simply about adding another badge or a few unique trim pieces.