PHOENIX — Facing an ever-increasing fierce competition among other ultra-luxe SUV competitors, a new fifth-generation Range Rover has been entirely designed taking luxury, design, poshness and performance to even loftier new heights. 

HERNDON, Va. — Some 50 years after Don McLean penned "American Pie," King Cadillac is looking up while the jester, Elon Musk, is looking down and — I’m guessing here — looking ahead. Of course, Cadillac and its GM siblings are planning to catch Tesla in a way only $illon-dollar multinationals can; Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick will be introducing a catalog of EVs, beginning in 2023.

PHOENIX — We’ve been saying it for years — the 4Runner is well past its freshness date and more than due for a complete redo. Still, over the years I’ve grown to soften my critique of the “ancient” 4Runner, that continues to set sales records, and in a quirky way I've learned to love it for what it is — simple, rugged, dependable and still highly sought after whether new or used.

INDIANAPOLIS — The original Pathfinder was a pretty hard-core off-roader based on Nissan’s rugged hardbody compact pickup.  First available with only two doors, but later four, it helped lead America away from station wagons and into family-friendly SUVs.  Subsequent generations became ever softer, eventually looking like a pudgy blimp only the Brady Bunch would love.  That is behind us as the current generation is still pretty plush, but returns style and capability to its roots.

PHOENIX — The first fully electric U.S. Mercedes-EQ rolled into dealer showrooms about a year ago with the EQS sedan and was also the first EQ lineage built on the dedicated platform the German automaker dubbed EVA. We recently reviewed that vehicle and came away super impressed with its rear-wheel steering, a respectable driving range of 350 miles between charges and was further surprised with an AMG version that delivers 649 horsepower and a massive 700 lb.-ft of torque.