2023 Hyundai Palisade First Drive: A Solid Technopunch

ram 1500-trx Full OverviewTime slowed to a standstill by the point our long-term 2021 Ram 1500 TRX was about 50 yards into what I can only describe as a small lake. The initial forward momentum I'd enjoyed at the beginning of the mud bog dwindled into a crawl. The front end of the TRX slowly drifting towards the deep, mucky waters in the middle of the flooded field. Surrounded by the desolate flatlands west of Moab, Utah, and only on my third day of our 43-day epic electric trip across the Trans-America Trail, now was not the time nor place to get stuck. Or worse."No, no, please no, not that way!" I screamed into the empty cabin. In this frozen moment, my mind started to whirl with worst case scenarios. "If you're sinking in water, you're supposed to roll down the windows so you can swim out right?" "I'd better close my mouth if I need to swim out—who knows what kind of brain-eating amoeba lives in this cesspool?" "How are they going to get the truck out? A bulldozer? A crane?" "Should I bring my camera? My luggage? Whose fault is this? How did I eff this up?"As time froze, my mind went to how I got myself into this predicament.I've been a photographer with MotorTrend since 2008, and in my mind the Ram 1500 TRX represents the high water mark for gasoline powered truck. Powerful, capable, great to drive on-and off-road, and just an all-around badass of a vehicle. All of that being said, during the early stages of planning our Trans-America Trail Rivian R1T adventure, I was the most outspoken critic when it came to the idea of using our long-term TRX as our photography and video support vehicle.The Trans-America Trail was originally explored by Sam Correro on a motorcycle, and having done my fair share of off-roading, I can tell you that most trails are just not that wide. The TRX might be one of the best trucks ever made, but with a width of 88 inches, it's also one of the widest. I honestly thought that it just wouldn't fit on most trails— that'd we'd litter the trail with TRX mirrors, fender flares, and paint flecks as we made our way off-road from North Carolina to Oregon.At the time that we were planning the trip, the TRX was also new to the market. Sure, it might be based on a standard Ram 1500, but if we ended up breaking something on the trail, would a random dealership in rural America have the parts to get us back on the road? Would the technicians be trained to work on it? For me, questions like this sowed the seeds of doubt about bringing the TRX along.On top of that, there's the simple fact that photographers like myself prefer to use SUVs as our support vehicles. When photographers and videographers do action shots, it requires us to ride and shoot out of the back of a vehicle, and we like the open hatch of an SUV because it provides more shelter from the elements than the bed of a truck. Trucks also tend to have stiffer rear-suspensions than SUVs, which makes shooting out of the bed very uncomfortable.As the weeks rolled by and the plan congealed, it became more apparent that a truck was needed to support the two Rivian R1Ts. Other than hauling the photographer, videographer, and our accompanying gear, we would also need to bring luggage, and camping and off-road recovery gear. There is just nothing quite as useful as a pickup truck, and so the decision was made to bring our long-term TRX.It turns out, that was the right decision. My initial concerns about the TRX not fitting on some trails was proven correct with a couple of tight squeezes, but it ended up being a non-issue. It may have been the widest vehicle to ever tackle the perilous Black Bear Pass in Colorado, but it made it just the same. While early legs applied a layer of paint protection in the form of a hardened "candy shell" of mud that kept small branches at bay, before the third leg of the trip started, we applied a roll-on paint protector product to help minimize scratches. As you'll read in a future update, our Ram TRX didn't come through unscathed, but considering the terrain we encountered, and the abuse it weathered, the TRX took it like a champ.It also turns out that the same compliant suspension that makes the TRX such a monster off-road, provides a cushy ride for the photographer and videographer riding in the bed. Did it rain? Of course it rained. It also snowed, hailed, and the truck basically endured two months in a dust storm, courtesy of our position at the rear of the convoy, but we would've suffered those indignities no matter what vehicle we were in.Speaking of, that's how I found myself piloting the TRX towards our two R1Ts on the other side of the flood plain.Back in the truck, the seconds seemed to last minutes, my mind filled with images of disaster. In that moment of hopelessness, as the truck was sucked towards the mucky deep, the front wheels of the Ram grabbed a submerged but solid patch of ground. As the front-end bit, the TRX started to right itself. Reanimated by a spark of hope and adrenaline, I rolled into the throttle and the engine exploded to life with a bellicose roar. As the tires found traction, a rooster tail of mud shot skyward, and I started to make some headway. I wasn't out of the woods—err, water—yet, but as I slowly clawed forward, time restored itself to a normal speed.I floored the gas pedal, and I gripped tight on the steering wheel as the TRX's 702 horsepower uncorked. I won't say that I resorted to chanting, "I think I can, I think I can" like Thomas the Tank Engine, but every fiber of my soul was willing the TRX to dry land and the trail on the other side. As the water gave way to slick mud and grass, I started to breathe easier. I was wrong to doubt the TRX. In fact, I have never been happier to be so wrong. The TRX was the right vehicle to bring, and I will always be thankful that I didn't have to go for a swim.Looks good! More details?More on Our Yearlong 2021 Ram 1500 TRXAn Unusual Start For Our Ram 1500 TRXWhat's Faster: SRT Charger or the TRX That Towed It to the Track?If a Car Journalist Cuts Down a Tree in the Forest … ?Ram 1500 TRX vs Rivian R1T: The Impromptu Drag Race

With only a teasing picture and a brief sentence, Subaru shows its electrified future isn't just EV SUVs like the Solterra. The Japanese brand isn't backing down from making enthusiast-centric, high-performance vehicles like the 2022 Subaru WRX STI in the EV era, and this new concept for the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon—the STI E-RA—is proof of that.The Electric EraThe announcement of this car is just a single sentence, "STI is showcasing the STI E-RA Concept developed in a new project launched with an aim of gaining experience and practice in new technologies in the world of motorsport which is making its way toward a carbon neutral era." Unfortunately, besides the picture above, Subaru hasn't said exactly what this "practice" vehicle will end up being. However, with "RA" in its name, we have some ideas or at least some hopes.An Electrified Record Attempt?Type RA cars have always been "Record Attempt" vehicles made to push what Subaru could produce beyond the "regular" STI models. The original RA, a Legacy, set an FIA World Speed Endurance Record in 1989, and subsequent RAs were meant for running hard on the Nordschleife, attacking the typically motorcycle-only Isle of Man course, or time attack competition. Most likely, that's what this E-RA will set to do: break or set new records for electric vehicle lap times.Our SpeculationFrom the looks of the teaser image, it looks a lot like the front end of the Toyota Sports EV concept that debuted and could become the next platform shared by the two companies. It's not hard to imagine how the two companies might visually distinguish heavily related products, having plenty of experience with the BRZ and its Scion and Toyota siblings. But unlike the BRZ, this STI E-RA could pack the companies signature all-wheel-drive drivetrain, because it's an easy task to run a dual traction motor setup with one in the front and one in the rear. Or perhaps a quad-motor setup could be utilized, for the ultimate in performance torque vectoring.Which also leads us to wonder if Subaru might leverage solid state battery tech developed by Toyota, the next holy grail of electric technology. Toyota has been working on solid-state batteries for some time, and it would make sense from an economy of scale standpoint to utilize it in as many vehicles as possible, especially space-constrained and weight-conscious sports cars.Of course, all of this speculation could be blown out the window depending on what shows up at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon. It could end up being the next SVX, a grand tourer with a modern lightweight glass roof, or even be a callback to the least remembered XT6. We'll just have to wait and see.

If you see a riveted travel trailer that resembles an Airstream but isn't, it may be a Bowlus. That's assuming you're extremely lucky, too—there simply aren't many of these rare, upscale campers out there, so spotting one is like peeping Bigfoot.The company roots trace back to an aircraft builder named Hawley Bowlus, creator of a riveted, polished metal travel trailer back in 1934 to transport flight crews to remote locations. The brand has since been reinvented by Geneva Long, CEO of modern-day Bowlus. Characterized by an upright rounded front that tapers into an upside-down canoe-shaped rear, Bowlus trailers appear quite distinct in their Streamline Moderne design, almost steampunk-like in detail and complexity. Now, those Bowlus models—the Terra Firma, Endless Highways Performance Edition, and the Endless Highways Edition—are joined by a new model, called the Volterra, that takes the classic format and fully electrifies it for a new era.EV Trailerin'Bowlus makes some pretty bold claims regarding its brand-new, all-electric 2023 Volterra model, including that it is the first production RV to be 100-percent electric; the first to apply AeroSolar; the first with high-speed satellite internet; and the first to offer an induction cooktop. We'll work through these aspects one by one.The Volterra is all-electric, meaning it's devoid of a generator or propane fuel, the common power sources for running appliances while boondocking and figuratively (and literally) keeping the lights on. It has 17 kwh of lithium iron phosphate batteries (for a 100-percent increase in battery capacity over its Terra Firma model). It has 20-amp outlets to give an EV tow vehicle a little bit of juice in the case of an emergency, and the EV (or, we suspect, a hybrid with substantial power generation capabilities such as an F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid—can likewise recharge the Bowlus while driving.Bowlus is proud of its AeroSolar setup that has up to 480 watts of solar power absorption. Compared to aluminum-framed glass panels, the AeroSolar panels feature monocrystalline cells with PERC technology that make the cells more efficient and the panels lightweight and durable. They're paired with a smart MPPT solar controller that coordinates the flow of vital juice. The solar panels fit the roof perfectly, and there are two optional suitcase panels for extra solar.Want to do some remote streaming or download some giant files to your mobile office in the middle of nowhere? The Bowlus Volterra has Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet for fast and reliable internet in most places. Starlink for RVs is relatively new and can be expected to hit a bounty of nomadic setups in the near future.Whereas most (if not all) trailers normally have propane stoves, the Bowlus Volterra has an induction cooktop, excelling in energy efficiency while providing precise temperature and cooking control. One could argue induction cooktops are safer, too, as the surface works with a magnetic field rather than physically getting hot, which also means you don't necessarily heat up the whole trailer while cooking dinner. The downsides of induction tops are that they require induction-ready cookware, and they're simply more expensive.The Volterra sleeps and dines four inside the fully vegan, limited-edition interior theme that's been named "La Cumbre," for the name of a mountain peak behind Santa Barbara, California. "Ynez" seating with "Rafael" accent piping recreate a beautiful California sunset. Black and old rose striped 100-percent linen duvet covers, blankets, and throw pillows are included.The Bowlus Volterra measures just over 27 feet long and has a base weight of 3,250 pounds (4,000-pound GVWR), indicating it's pretty lightweight. It has a 50-gallon freshwater tank, which Bowlus considers "perfect for extended off-grid time or longer showers." We'd like to see double that amount of fresh water—but that would exceed the GVWR in water alone. A cool feature when it comes to navigating into tight camping spots is its 120-degree color backup camera that's rechargeable, waterproof, and compatible with all iOS and Android devices.Getting into a Bowlus Volterra will set owners back at least $310,000. That's hard to wrap your mind around, right? This helps explain why you don't see very many in the wild. To put this into perspective, the most expensive Airstream, the 33-foot Classic, starts at $206,500. If you ever see a Bowlus, it's okay to stare.