Hot Wheels: 2025 Subaru WRX tS
Driving should be fun, right? Slingshotting away from the stoplight. A tsunami of power when you pull-out to pass. The feeling of running on invisible rails as you rocket round a tight freeway on-ramp. Of course, any serious sports machine, from Porsche to Ferrari, from Lamborghini to Lotus, will check all those boxes. But at a price. Looking for sportscar fun on a budget, with the bonus of four doors? May I present the brand new Subaru WRX tS, a pocket rocket that’s more of a blast than a day at Disney, more of a thrill ride than SkeiKra at Busch Gardens. And all for $46,875, adrenaline included. It’s the new flagship of Subaru’s performance-focused WRX line-up that’s been specially tuned by the company’s fabled Subaru Technica International division – that’s STI, for short. Enthusiasts still go gaga remembering the legendary, big-winged WRX STI rocketships that were the performance car to have back in the 2000s. Remember the WRX STI that Ansel Elgort drove in the hit movie Baby Driver, or the Impreza WRX STI that Paul Walker drove in Fast and Furious and Furious 7? Just magical action. Enthusiasts are still furious that Subaru abruptly ended STI production in 2018. While this new tS is no STI, it’s the closest you can get today. Under the hood there’s Subaru’s 271-hp 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-4 ‘Boxer’ engine, coupled to a slick-shifting, six-speed manual transmission. Yup, a stick. And don’t go looking for an automatic on the options list. There isn’t one. It’s manual or nothing. Add to that, there’s a Christmas wish-list of performance-focused componentry that helps transform the Scoobie tS into the funster it is. Take the brakes. Here are high-performance Brembo stoppers, with six-piston units up front clamping 13.4-inch rotors, and dual-piston versions at the rear paired with 12.8-inch discs. And gold-painted calipers all round. Maybe the pieces de resistance are the electronically-controlled adaptive dampers, tuned by STI especially for the tS, that give you the choice of Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+ setting for truly dynamic handling. Then there’s the “look”. See this new tS on the street and it oozes broody, street-fighter aggression, a little like Jason Statham in The Beekeeper. There’s nothing flashy here; but one look and somehow you know it means business. Put that down to the big, air-gulping hood scoop, the black wheel arch extensions, sculpted sills, and 19-inch multi-spoke, satin-gray-finish rims. Love too the cool, roof-mounted, shark-fin antenna, along with the rear trunk spoiler and quartet of shiny exhausts. Stick numbers to the front doors and oh the fun you could have at your local SCCA autocross events, and club track days. This Subaru was born to run. Climb aboard and the cabin matches the sporty exterior. Big, side-bolstered Recaro sports seats grip you like a welcome hug from Mike Tyson. They’re trimmed in Alcantara ultra-suede with bright blue leather edging, with bright blue leather accents on the doors and center console. Love the big red start button too, with an STI logo, plus the standard Harman Kardon 11-speaker, 504-watt stereo, and sporty drilled aluminum pedals in the footwell. The beauty of this new WRX is that it’s also practical, with plenty of rear-seat kneeroom and a decent-sized trunk. But it’s on the road where it really shines. While 271 horseys doesn’t sound like a stampede, the little four-cylinder turbo feels as eager as Sea Biscuit out of the starting gate. Let the revs soar to the 6,000 rpm red line and you’ll hit 60 mph from zero in around 5.5 seconds. And that six-speed stick really adds to the fun, having a lovely hot-knife-through-a stick-of-Land-O-Lakes action, complimented by a smooth, progressive clutch. Find yourself a twisty back road – difficult, I know, here in the Sunshine State – and this feisty Subaru feels like a go-kart on steroids, its Bridgestone Potenza rubberware gripping like chewing gum on velvet. No, this new WRX tS won’t be for everyone. Not everyone wants a stick shift, for starters. And all of the Subaru’s key rivals, like the Honda Civic Type R, VW Golf R, Toyota GR Corolla and Hyundai Elantra N, boast more horsepower. But the Subie offers a unique brand of fun, and as a performance package, it’s tough to beat.
Electric Avenue: 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
Talk about surprise and delight. My first mile in Chevy’s electron-powered Equinox EV and I’m nodding my head in approval and mouthing the word “Hmmm”. Which is proving a little disconcerting to my wife in the passenger seat. By mile 10, I’m pulling over to Walgreens to buy flowers and chocolates and declaring unrequited love to this hugely-appealing electric crossover. My wife? Oh, she’s taking an Uber home, and booking me in for therapy. No, Chevy’s 2025 Equinox EV doesn’t do anything ground-breaking compared to the ever-growing cadre of rivals, like Tesla’s Model Y, Hyundai’s Ioniq5, Kia’s EV6, Ford’s Mustang Mach-E or VW’s ID4. What it delivers, however, is a supremely-lovable, all-round package of features and qualities that, for me, really boosts the appeal of this jack-of-all-trades Chevy. And builds a strong case for switching to electric. Take range. This front-drive, single-motor Equinox LT I’m driving, will whirr along for 319 miles on a single charge. Unless you’re making road trips to grandma’s house in Biloxi every weekend, that’s more than sufficient for the commuting, shopping, school and beach-runs. And if the ohms start depleting, the Equinox comes with a NACS DC adaptor that gives you access to over 20,000 Tesla Supercharger stations for fast charging. Plug in, and you should be able to add 70 miles of range to the battery in as little as 10 minutes. Then there’s the sticker. A base single-motor LT kicks off at a blue-light-special $34,995. Who knows how long it will last, but for now Uncle Sam will still give you a $7,500 tax credit on the Equinox, bringing it down to just $27,495. Then there’s the way it looks. I think GM designers have hit one right out of the park with those zoomy, futuristic lines. I just love the high-waist, low-roof profile, that raked-back windshield and muscley haunches over the super-cool 21-inch rims. And this thing has a most distinctive snout than Adrien Brody’s. It’s all funky curves and different textures and blade-like wrap-around LED lights. See it in your rear-view and it looks like an extra from a Tron movie. Of course our test car’s striking Riptide Blue Metallic paint with contrasting white roof adds to the visual drama. Climb aboard and there are more surprises and delights. Like the impressive 17.7-inch diagonal touch screen, plus 11-inch digital instrument cluster, that sprawls across the dash. With its pin-sharp graphics and vibrant colors, it’s like being at the movies. And the cabin feels huge inside. Climb into the back seat and old Lincoln Town Cars didn’t offer this much legroom. And the $1,500 it costs for the panoramic glass roof is worth every cent. Talking of cents, Chevy, somewhat strangely, offers a $11,400 30-option package it unimaginatively calls “Convenience Package II”. This comes with all the goodies you’d ever desire, including standouts like Super Cruise self-driving, those 21-inch wheels, heated and vented front seats, wireless charging. The list goes on. And on. But don’t go looking for Apple Car Play or Android Auto connectivity. It’s not even offered. Welcome back to the Nineties. On the road, the Equinox’s 220-hp single electric motor up front juiced by an 85 kWh battery, delivers ample though not quite athletic performance. While anyone expecting typical EV rock-out-of-a-catapult off-the-line sprinting, the Chevy’s more leisurely performance might disappoint. Here we’re talking 0-to-60 mph in around 7.5 seconds. But in day-to-day driving it feels plenty sufficient, with a focus on Teflon-smooth power delivery, relaxed rather than jack-rabbit acceleration and easy cruising. Need more? Splash the extra cash for the dual-motor, all-wheel drive Equinox and you get a nice round 300 hp and more zippy 0-to-60 time of 5.8 seconds. Range, however, drops to 307 miles. But it’s the one I’d go for. Add to all that a suprisingly smooth and supple ride, nicely weighted and precise steering, and plenty of poise, balance and grip through the curves. Excellent one-pedal driving too, where you lift off the “gas” and it slows without touching the brakes. As for those Walgreens flowers and candy I bought, I guess I’ll just leave them in the back seat.
Little Italy: 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale Tributo Italian Hybrid
Typically, when someone asks you what you’re driving, it’s a one or two word answer. Oh, it’s an Audi Q5. Or BMW X1. Or simply, a Corvette. Or Mustang. But with the latest Alfa Romeo I’ve been piloting this week, you need to take a deep breath, and maybe adopt a Tony Soprano accent. Which might just scare a few people if the conversation is in the Whole Foods parking lot. Say it after me: Alfa Romeo Tonale Tributo Italiano Utilita Sportiva eAWD. Capisce? The pint-sized Tonale – it rhymes with Denali – has been around for a couple of years now, providing the first rung on the Alfa ownership ladder. No, it hasn’t been the total success Alfa hoped for. Maybe because its biggest competitor has been its larger, and more dynamic big brother, the Alfa Stelvio. That, and the fact that the Tonale is a re-skinned version of a mechanically-identical Dodge Hornet, which undercuts the Tonale by thousands of bucks. Remember Dodge and Alfa Romeo are part of the Stellantis automotive group. But hey, it’s an Alfa Romeo with that glorious, iconic scudetto, or ‘little shield’ triangular grille on the nose that has been a feature of every Alfa Romeo since 1934. And still one of the coolest exterior features of the Tonale is the stunning triple-U LED headlight design which gives a slightly menacing look to the front end. To celebrate its Italian heritage, and hopefully woo a few more buyers, Alfa has introduced this gussied-up, limited edition Tributo Italian version for 2025. It’s a sweet package that includes body-colored lower trim, a black-painted roof, gloss-black window surrounds and a set of those lovely 20-inch Grigio alloys, plus red-painted Brembo brake calipers and a pair of chrome exhaust tips. And talking of paint, splurge the $2,200 on the truly-glorious Verde Fangio Metallic paint which is greener than the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa on St. Paddy’s Day. Inside, the Tributo Italian package includes lovely paneled-leather sports seats with teeny perforations that show red through the holes. The cabin itself is surprisingly roomy for a compact SUV, with decent rear-seat space, with seats that fold flat for a spacious luggage area for all those cases of Prosecco you’re bringing home from Trader Joe’s. But the headline feature of this latest Tonale is its feisty hybrid powertrain. Here there’s a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mated to a six-speed automatic that’s juiced by a 90 kW electric motor driving the rear wheels. Gas and electric power combine to deliver a non-trivial, and best-in-class 268 horseys and 295 lb-ft of torque. Its party piece however is the 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the floor which, when topped-up, can take you 33 miles on zero-emission, stealthy-silent, electric-only power. Perfect for zipping around town. And when you plug in to a typical 240-volt home charger, you can replenish those Duracells in around two and a half hours. So how does it all come together on the road? Two words: Mamma Mia. Stomp on the sporty aluminum accelerator pedal and the Tonale scoots away from a stop light like a spooked gecko. Click the stopwatch and you’ll see 0-to-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. That hybrid assist also provides plenty of punch when you’re pulling out to pass, or merging from a freeway on-ramp. No, it’s not the sweetest-sounding four-cylinder, getting a little harsh and throbby as the revs rise. But at 75 on I-75 it’s as smooth as Tuscan olive oil. The electric-assist steering is also not as laser-precise or as responsive as you’d expect of an Alfa Romeo, especially the sibling Stelvio. But it’s nicely-weighted and, coupled with standard all-wheel drive, makes the Tonale fun through the curves. As for the price of all this Italian brio, this limited edition Tonale Tributo Italian is a biggish hit at $53,400, or $59,500 for our tester. Base versions are a better value at around $45,000, or $36,500 for the new-for-2025 non-hybrids. But for a little taste of Italy with fun hybrid power, this newest Tonale has a lot going for it.
King of the Hill: GMC’s 830-hp all-electric Hummer SUV
Big news. No, really big news. The all-electric GMC Hummer EV SUV you see before you, may look as gargantuan and ungainly as a Waste Management dump truck. But surprise, surprise, it might just be the most fun and feisty SUV you’ll drive this side of a Lamborghini Urus. A lot of that comes down to raw power. This thing is a Hoover Dam on wheels, a road-going Saturn V rocket. Three humongous electric motors – one up front, two out back – deliver a combined 830 horsepower and an astonishing 11,500 pound-feet of stump-pulling torque at the wheels. Engage the insane Watts to Freedom launch control – yes, as in WTF – and the Hummer’s bank of Cray super-computers primes the systems for max power. Now squeeze the brake pedal while stomping on the gas and Jeeez Louise. Big Daddy Don Garlits in his Swamp Rat dragster probably never felt this much thrust. Click a stopwatch and zero-to-60 mph comes up in a crazy 3.5 seconds. It’s the kind of instant acceleration that will steal your breath, turn belly-button innies into outies, and have you the driver struggling to resist throwing your hands in the air as if riding SheiKra at Busch Gardens. Yes, a rival Rivian R2 electric sport ute is good for standstill-to-60 sprints in around three seconds. And the aforementioned Lambo Urus Performante will rocket to 60 in 3.1. But what makes the Hummer’s acceleration so insane is that this towering rocketship tips the scales at a truly elephantine 8,673 pounds. That’s a hair over four and a half tons. And that weighty weight is only matched by the truck’s oversized footprint. Bluff nose to upright tail, it measures 197 inches long, a massive 87-inches wide and up to 83.6 inches tall. No wonder climbing aboard feels like scaling the side of El Capitan. Now you’d think that with these XXL-sized dimensions, the Hummer would feel like a bull in a china shop manuvering into any parking space that wasn’t the size of a football pitch. Not so. The party trick here is its rear-wheel steering that, at low speed, turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts. It gives the Hummer a pinch-tight turning radius of just 35.4 feet. That’s a foot tighter than a Toyota Corolla’s. GMC’s Hummer SUV is the follow-up to the Hummer EV Pick-up launched in 2021. It’s a welcome 20 inches shorter, and to my eyes, visually more interesting. I love the light bar on the front grille that spells out Hummer in brighty-white LEDs. Love too that when you’re charging, the lights turn neon-blue showing the level of charge. Love that high waist and low roofline. And talking of charge, the EPA estimates a range of 314 miles, though the best I could get was 304 miles. Owning this Hummer EV however, you’d need to have a Level 2 home charger; re-juicing the massive 170 kWh battery pack from a standard 120-volt plug would take a day, as opposed to eight hours with a Level 2. Finding a DC fast charger is the best solution where you can add 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Climb aboard – thankfully there are side steps and meaty grab handles to help – and the Hummer’s cabin is a lovely place to be. Especially if you unclip the four lightweight, transparent rooftop Sky Panels, which store easily in the front trunk. Closed to open in five minutes max. The roomy cabin holds five in comfort with acres of rear seat legroom and elbow room. Fold down the back seats and there’s a whopping 82 cubic feet of cargo space. Out on the streets, the Hummer impresses with its magic carpet air suspension ride, its low-roll cornering courtesy of that low, low center of gravity, and its surprisingly precise steering. Only the downsides are a bit too much wind and tire noise. GM currently offers a pair of 2025 Hummer EV SUVs, kicking off with the twin-motor 2x at $96,550 and topping out with my favorite, and the one I’ve been driving, the triple-motor 3x starting at $104,650. Paint mine this stunning shade called Solar Orange. Of course, no one needs an electric Hummer SUV. But oh the fun you’ll have driving one. And it makes way more sense than the senseless Tesla Cybertruck.
Clockwork Orange: McLaren Arturo Spider
A big round of applause please for Britain’s McLaren Racing. If you follow the cut and thrust of Formula 1, you’ll know the team took home the coveted Constructor’s Championship at the end of last season. The last time this happened was 26 years ago. It was a big deal. Right now I’m seeing a wave of orange mist – orange is to McLaren what red is to Ferrari – wafting over me as I settle-in behind the wheel of this newly-minted 2025 Artura Spider hybrid supercar, painted in a retina-searing shade, aptly-named McLaren Orange. While this Artura Spider is the first-rung on the McLaren road-car ladder – not that something costing $278,800, or $344,700 very nicely loaded could be classed as entry-level – it feels every bit the road-going Formula 1 car it is. No, it’s not the fastest or most-potent McLaren you can buy. That honor goes to the rolling insanity that’s the brand new W1, with its 1,258 horsepower, 217 mph top speed, and $2.1 million price tag. But to us mere mortals, who don’t drive with a full-face helmet and a Nomex racing romper suit, it’s how we imagine a F1 car to be. It certainly has the power. Mid-mounted behind the cockpit is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 nuclear reactor juiced, in hybrid fashion, by a torque-rich electric motor. Combined they deliver a mighty 690 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque. SpaceX rockets make do with less. It has the performance too, boasting standstill to 60 mph sprints in 2.8 seconds, standstill to 124 mph in 8.4 and a top speed of 205 mph. And with the car’s 7.4 kWh battery fully charged, it’ll go for 11 miles on zero emission electric power. Perfect for not annoying the neighbors when you sneak out in the wee hours. But there’s another 11 that’s just as impressive. That’s the 11 seconds it takes for the Spider’s one-piece glass roof to glide rearwards and tuck beneath a rear-hinged carbon fiber cover. Splash an extra $9,400 and you get the must-have electrochromic glass that, at the touch of a button, goes from clear to opaque in an instant. Perfect to temper the Florida midday sun. Like McLaren F1 superstar Lando Norris’ weekend driver, the Artura’s cockpit is all-business, no nonsense. It’s acres of coal-black Alcantara suede and black carbon fiber. Only slender ribbons of bright orange piping break-up the Darth Vader look. Seated behind that pool-noodle-thick wheel, held tight by seats that embrace you like a John Cena body-lock, and you’re ready to roll. Press the big Tropicana-orange ‘start’ button, hit D-for-drive, and ease away. Instantly you’re aware of the car’s incredible lightness; at around 3,200 pounds, it’s supermodel-skinny, weighing just 136 pounds more than the coupe. Put that down to the Artura’s I-beam-stiff carbon fiber monocoque that incorporates much of the black art that goes into Lando’s F1 racer. Now floor the gas, feel the tumultuous forward thrust and try not to scream too many expletives. Yes, the off-the-line acceleration is mind-altering, but arguably it’s the mid-range thrust that thrills the most. Lunging out of a freeway on-ramp, or blasting past slower traffic on a back-country two-lane? Insane. And oh the noise. Admittedly it’s not as soulful as McLaren’s V8-powered rocketships. But as the V6 spins towards its 8,200 rpm redline, there’s a deep, urgent, intense howl made even more thrilling by having that top down and windows lowered. Find yourself a tight curve or two and you’ll discover the sheer brilliance of the McLaren’s steering. It’s old-school hydraulic-assist rather than modern-day electric. But the astonishing level of feedback, the perfect weighting, the laser-sharp precision is, undoubtedly, this car’s greatest attribute. Yet the genius of this new Spider is just how easy it is to drive. Hit the comfort setting, and it can glide around town, usually in electric mode, with a ride that’s as smooth as a Lexus. And for a hip-high supercar, all-round visibility is impressive. While this new Spider costs $24,700 more than the fixed-roof Artura Coupe, it’s worth every penny. It may just be my favorite McLaren. I’d take mine in orange please.
Space Jam: 2025 Chevrolet Traverse High Country
To quote Star Trek’s Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise as he signed-in to each new episode: “Space. The final frontier”. It’s hard to introduce you to the 2025 Chevy Traverse High Country I’ve been driving, without gushing about the SUV’s cavernous, humongous, supremely-practical space. For a mid-size sport-ute, this thing is huge. Three rows of seats, space in the third row for a couple of adults, and with the second and third rows folded, the load space of a Mayflower moving truck. Thinking about buying a new full-size Tahoe? You may want to take a look at this freshly-minted Traverse. It’s big. The Traverse line-up got a full-body makeover last year, with all-new styling to replace the previous, tofu-bland model. It came with more curves than J.Lo in Spandex, a sexier waistline, and a bolder, more Tahoe-like front end with slimline LED lights. Under the hood, the previous, wheezy 3.6-liter V6 got ditched. In its place a new, small-but-mighty, 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder packing a muscley 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. For 2025, Chevy brought back the fancy High Country trim that adds shiny chrome to the grille and around the bodywork, and towering 22-inch rims at each corner. Climb aboard and coal-black leather covers the seats – soft gray is the other choice – with nice bronze-colored contrast piping, perforated panels in the middle, and heating and cooling for the driver and front passenger. The comfy second row captain’s chairs also get heating, while both the second and third rows can be power-folded flat at the touch of a button. The High Country trim also includes such niceties as keyless entry with remote start, walk-up lighting and unlocking, rear pedestrian alert and thumping 10-speaker Bose premium sound. Leaving the best for last is GM’s impressive Super Cruise semi self-driving system which is standard. It works on almost 750,000 miles of divided highways across the US and Canada. Find yourself on one of those approved roads and you’ll get a green light on the dash. Set the cruise control, hit the Super Cruise button on the wheel. Now take your hands off the wheel and the Traverse will literally drive itself. And its cool party trick is automated lane changing. Tap your blinker, sensors will make sure there’s enough room to change lanes, and it will do the rest. Spooky at first, but impressive when you get used to it. While that High Country badge might suggest some serious off-road chops, the big Traverse actually comes standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive a $2,000 option. But even then, it’s more of a soft-roader for light off-road duty than a mountain climber. Leave the rocky stuff to the V8 Tahoe. Talking of pricing, the 2025 Traverse line-up kicks off with the base LT at a bang-for-the-buck $41,995. Next up is the Z71 at $48,995, with the range-topping RS at $56,795. Our 2025 High Country came in at $54,995 including destination and $56,900 out the door. The only options were the must-have $1,500 panoramic glass roof and that deep Radiant Red paint for an extra $495. Fire-up the new turbo four-cylinder mill, tap the new steering column stalk shifter for the Traverse’s new eight-speed automatic to hit ‘drive’ and you’re away. While a 2.5-liter four-banger might seem a little puny to be motivating a 4,700-pound SUV, it’s like The Little Engine That Could. Off the line it sprints away with enthusiasm and punches above its weight, with enough oomph to pass slower traffic and merge easily from on-ramps. Yes, the motor can sound a little strained when revved hard, but ease off and the Traverse becomes a haven of hush. Highway cruising at 70 mph is nothing less than serene making it a perfect long-distance family hauler. It also steers nicely, carves curves with ease and rock-solid stability, brakes strongly, and rides like a Town Car. As you’d expect in this hugely popular segment of the market, rivals for the big Chevy are plentiful. Heavy three-row hitters include Kia’s Telluride, Toyota’s Grand Highlander, the lovely Mazda CX-90, Hyundai’s Palisade and the Honda Pilot. But the Chevy, especially the High Country, shines with its cool styling, super-roomy and versatile interior, impressive level of standard equipment, and terrific pricing. Captain Kirk would have approved.
Waterfront Living: Arkup 50 Livable Yacht
Don’t call it a houseboat, it’s an Arkup 50 Livable Yacht. Yes, if offers two roomy bedrooms, two ensuite baths and a rooftop terrace as big as Kansas. But it can up-anchor and cruise the inland waterways under its own zero-emission, solar-electric power. Yet what really sets it apart, are its spud poles. Excuse me, spud what? These are hefty steel tubes hidden out of sight in the four corners of the Arkup. At the press of a button, they descend to the sea bed, then lift-up the yacht so that it sits out of the water, away from those pesky waves or swell. On a grander scale, it’s the same design used for offshore oil rigs. It means no rocking and rolling, no queazy tummies for sea-sickness sufferers. And the electro-hydraulic poles extend 17 feet so in, say, 10 feet of water, they can levitate the Arkup up to seven feet above sea level. Think of the possibilities. Cruise to your favorite bay or sand bar, lower the spuds – it takes around five minutes – then sit back and relax. And the catamaran-hulled yacht is completely self-sustained, courtesy of its 75 kWh bank of lithium-ion batteries juiced by a full-length, top-deck roof frame that holds 30 12 kW solar panels. Not only do the batteries deliver the power to run the Arkup’s air conditioning, but everything else, from the induction cooktop and electric grille, to the washer/dryer, lighting and TVs. You name it. And most important, it delivers ample amps to power the yacht’s 80 hp electric propulsion system. Indefinitely. How come? On a sunny day, the solar system can generate enough electricity to push the Arkup at its five-knot cruise speed without draining the batteries. Need to speed-up to punch against that incoming tide? Top speed is 8.5 knots. What happens when the sun goes in? There’s a diesel back-up generator. Miami-based Arkup has been around since 2016. Founded by French engineers Arnaud Luguet and Nicolas Derouin, their first ‘Livable Yacht’ was the massive Arkup 75 with 4,000-square-feet of living space, six bedrooms and a $5 million price tag. If you’ve ever driven along cruise-ship alley in Miami, you’ll have seen it parked outside a home on ritzy Star Island. According to Arkup business development manager, Jared Pearlman, who gave me a tour of the new 50 during last year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the builder created the yacht to widen the appeal of this intriguing home on the water. “Its uses are infinite. While we see it being used primarily as an extension of a waterfront home, it could also be a luxury guest apartment, an office, luxury rental or a weekend retreat.” The version I toured was configured with a two-bed, two-bath layout, though Arkup can design it as a one-bedroom with one bath, or open-plan studio. What comes standard however, is 660 square feet of living space under a/c on the lower level and another 660 square feet on the top deck. Opt for the power-deploying, wrap-around side decks and the 50’s total square-footage soars to 2,200 sq ft. The beauty of these side decks is that they provide water-level space for reclining on a sun lounger, or tieing-up a tender alongside. And, as Pearlman points out, with the decks raised up and positioned flush against the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass windows, they seal-up the yacht “like a turtle in its shell”. That gives peace of mind in a storm, or hurricane, or to lock-and-leave when you’re away. As for that roof deck, it is truly vast and just perfect for outdoor entertaining, movie watching, alfresco dinners, or just lounging. Arkup can even install a hot tub. And the helm station is here, where the Arkup can be maneuvered using the 180-degree steerable stern propellor, together with the forward bow thruster. As a floating villa without the all-important spud poles and fold-down terraces, an Arkup 50 will set you back around $900,000. Add those items, plus a few other luxuries and you’re looking at close to $1.6 million. Delivery is via a couple of 18-wheelers from the company’s Bedford, Indiana manufacturing facility. No, you won’t be crossing any oceans in an Arkup and you’ll want to avoid big winds and waves. But as a luxury pied a l’eau, it’s a terrific concept.
Miami Nice: 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet
We’re condo shopping in Miami. Mercedes-Benz is the latest automaker to add its logo to a super-luxe condo tower about to reach for the skies in the Magic City, and we’ve come to take a look. And we have the perfect ride to cruise in style to the new Mercedes-Benz Places Miami development in the bustling Brickell neighborhood; the just-launched 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet. If you’ve been following Miami’s crazy car-condo world, you’ll know that car makers Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, Pagani and Pininfarina have already put their name to high-end condo towers to add a little extra glitz and glam. The Mercedes-Benz Places mega-development will consist of a pair of towers, each over 60 stories tall and containing 800 apartments, ranging from studios to three beds, with prices starting at around $750,000 and going up to over $3.5 million. When it’s completed in 2027, it’ll come with such cool Mercedes features as a residents-only Silver Arrows rooftop lounge, a Mercedes Formula 1 simulator to drive, lots of three-pointed star logos, and a fleet of Mercedes cars to drive. One of those will likely be this stunning new $85,000 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet. Here’s a droptop that oozes as much Miami “cool” as Don Johnson in a white linen suit. You can step into a CLE Cabriolet from around $70,000 with the four-cylinder entry CLE 300. Or there’s the CLE 450 with six-cylinder power and a roughly $76,000 sticker. But for the full, top-of-the-line Miami experience, Mercedes has just added this AMG-tuned CLE 53 with a Teflon-smooth turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six mild-hybrid making 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic and 4Matic all-wheel drive, along with AMG-massaged sports suspension for carving curves. Not that you’ll find too many in traffic-snarled Miami. But this new CLE 53 certainly looks the part to fit in with the hip South Beach crowd. That oversized Mercedes Panamericana grille and air-gulping corner vents give the car a suitably angry face. Add to that, wider fenders front and rear that cover absolutely-gorgeous 20-inch rims, plus trademark AMG power bulges on the hood. Want to spin heads all along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue? Have your CLE 53 painted in this molten-lava-like shade called Patagonia Red Metallic like our test car. Just magnificent. And, of course, the whole point of the CLE 53 Cab is to drop the top and cruise with the wind in your hair and sun on your face. Press a button, and that tight-fitting canvas roof will descend (or ascend) in just 20 seconds, and at speeds up to 37 mph. What I also love about the CLE is that it’s a proper four-seater, so you can head to Coconut Grove with family or friends. And while that rear seat is on the tight side for grown-ups, there’s just enough legroom to make it comfortable enough for short drives. For kids, it’s perfect. Mercedes has also done a great job of cutting down the wind buffeting inside the cabin at speed. There’s a funky pop-up mesh wind deflector on top of the windshield – Mercedes calls it an “air-cap” – that does a great job of quelling turbulence. While you can enjoy top-down CLE cruising with the entry-level CLE 300, it’s the power of the AMG-tuned turbo six that sets the 53 apart. Red light to green and those 443 horseys can catapult the car to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds accompanied by the most delicious engine growl. Lift off the gas and there’s that lovely snap, crackle and pop from the exhausts. And while the closest thing to a curvy road in Miami is in Georgia, the 53’s laser-precise steering, tight AMG suspension and those grippy 20-inch gumballs at each corner make every traffic circle and freeway on-ramp a blast. The CLE’s cabin is also a wonderful place to be. The front seats grip you like a Hulk Hogan body lock, while the 12.3-inch digital instrument display and 11.9-inch center touchscreen make you feel like Tom Cruise in Top Gun. With fewer and fewer automakers offering convertibles these days, full credit to Mercedes for producing such a drop-top knock-out as this AMG CLE 53. Think of it as Miami “nice”.
Fuel Sipper: 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige
There’s no shortage of numbers to throw-out when talking about Kia’s new Carnival Hybrid SUV-like minivan. My favorite? 627. That’s the impressive distance this load-swallowing family hauler can cover on a single tank of gas. It’s Tampa to New Orleans. It’s Tampa to Charlotte. It’s Tampa to Miami, and back. On one tank. The Carnival Hybrid’s EPA-combined fuel economy average of 33 mpg, and the Kia’s generous 19-gallon tank comes up with that 627-mile range. My tally over the week I just shared with the Kia, including a one-day, 450-mile, no-dawdling round trip from home in St. Pete across state to West Palm, was a solid 32 to the gallon. One more little bonus; the Hybrid’s peppy little 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is happy to sip regular gas. Kia still offers a non-hybrid Carnival, powered by a smooth-spinning 3.5-liter V6. But again, consider a couple more numbers. Like the V6’s city economy of 18 mpg. Compare that to the 34 mpg you get around town in the Hybrid. The key to this super-impressive fuel efficiency is its combo of that 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder making 178 horsepower, and a muscley 72-hp electric motor to give a combined 242-hp. While that’s slightly less than the V6’s 287 horseys, the beauty of the hybrid powertrain is that the electric motor assists when the gas motor needs it most. Like during off the line acceleration, and to give right-now response when passing, or highway merging. The good folks at Car and Driver tested both versions, and found the V6 and Hybrid could rush from standstill to 60 mph in exactly the same 7.8 seconds. Advantage Hybrid. On the road, the Carnival Hybrid is a true joy to drive, with peppy, off-the-line acceleration and strong mid-range thrust, both complimented by the smoothest-shifting of six-speed automatics. And on the move it’s astonishingly quiet. This is not your typical throbby turbo-4. At times it feels and sounds as if it’s all-electric, not just electric-assist. Add to that, the kind of nimbleness and agility you simply don’t expect from a minivan. Through a tight curve, body lean is well-controlled, there’s plenty of grip from the 19-inch tires at each corner, and lumps and bumps on the road are soaked-up like a wet-vac on garage spills. My only niggle is that the van’s over-assisted electric steering feels as numb as a molar after a jab of Novocaine. That said, no complaints about the Carnival’s pinch-tight turning radius, which is up there with a Club Car golf cart’s. If anything, this impressive new hybrid powertrain is just the icing on the cake for this latest Carnival. I’m still a huge fan of its “I’m-not-a-minivan” styling, with that low roofline, high waist and blacked-out window frames, giving it the look of a sporty sport-ute. And for 2025, the SUV style was heightened with its more aggressive-looking stacked headlights, a more aggressive, almost snarling grille and wider lower intake. Blink twice and you could mistake it for Kia’s Telluride SUV. The rear gets a similar dose of athleticism, with a deeper roof spoiler, new, stacked rear lights and a new tailgate design. There are new, glossy-black 19-inch wheels as well. Minivan? What minivan? Yet it still oozes true minivan practicality and versatility. Those big power-sliding side doors are still there, and still open into one of the best thought-out cabins in the people-carrying world. The middle-row seats still offer the legroom of a stretched limo, and flip-forward for easy access to the adult-friendly third row. Our top-of-the-range $53,995 Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige – Hybrid pricing starts at $41,845 – does offer the no-cost option of twin captain’s chairs, in place of the three-across bench. But the downside is they’re fixed in place, whereas the bench can be lifted out. If you carry “stuff” that’s a big deal. Fold the third-row seat into the rear floor, and haul out the bench, and total load space is a whopping 145 cubic feet. There are Manhattan apartments with less. The Carnival’s formidable rivals here are Chrysler’s Pacifica Hybrid, and Toyota’s Siena Hybrid. But for me the Carnival’s sportier lines and more athletic character would get my vote. Not to mention that 627 number.
Tower of Power: Rolls-Royce Cullinan II Black Badge
Rolls-Royce doesn’t do anything so Kardashian as facelifts. Instead, it delivers what’s labeled a ‘subtle evolution’. So, six years after the oh-so-British luxury automaker shocked the world with its first ever SUV, the towering Cullinan has just received a subtle evolution. It’s badged Cullinan Series II and it comes with exactly what owners and hand-raisers have asked for; a more expressive face, an updated dash with the latest tech, even more sumptuous materials, and more options for bespoke customization. C The result? Exceedingly impressive, as we find out during a joyous test drive in southern France’s Provençal countryside around the ancient town of Aix-en-Province, birthplace of that post-impressionist master Paul Cézanne. Parked on the crunchy gravel courtyard of the spectacular Château La Coste hotel and winery just north of Aix where we’re spending the night, the Cullinan spins heads more than ever. Put that down to the new front-end design featuring L-shaped LED daytime running lights that spear across the headlights and plunge vertically, easily differentiating this latest Cullinan from the original. That trademark Pantheon grille is also subtly tweaked, losing its thick chrome frame and gaining elegant downlighting. It now looks more integrated into the nose, less stuffy, more modern. The freshening continues with a whole new lower front section, with bigger side air intakes featuring angled slats that seem to visually widen and lower this luxury leviathan. Stroll around to the rear and you’ll see a new bumper with enlarged exhaust openings. Pity that the vertical, pencil-thin LED lighting of the front couldn’t have been incorporated back here. Maybe that’ll come with the next ‘subtle evolution’. As before, the Cullinan comes in two flavors, standard or Black Badge, and it’s the latter that’s our ride for the day. It still looks as edgy and slightly villainous as ever, courtesy of all that blacked-out chrome which, for this 2025 version, now includes black-finished door handles. The other main reason for choosing a Black Badge is still what lurks beneath that mile-long hood. The mighty twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V12 packs 592 hp compared to the standard version’s 563 hp. These massive outputs are unchanged for 2025, as is most of the other techie stuff, like the self-leveling air suspension, eight-speed automatic, and rear-wheel steering. The old adage of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it applies here. A press of the start button brings to life the big V12, though here it feels more like you’re energizing the electric powertrain of the all-new Spectre. All you hear is spooky silence with maybe the gentlest whoosh as those 12 cylinders breathe deep. Before we head to the hills, take a look at this refreshed cabin. Here there’s a new glass dashboard featuring instrumentation and more intuitive software from the electric Spectre. As always, there’s a multitude of options for interior materials and colors. One new offering is the funky Duality Twill fabric made from bamboo fibers. It incorporates more than 2.2 million stitches and 11 miles of thread to create an abstract interpretation of the interlocking RR logo. Sorry, I’m not a fan; give me buttery Rolls-Royce perforated leather any day. But as before, the Cullinan’s cabin is a sanctuary of luxury and hush, with the usual exquisite attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship. A squeeze of the accelerator is all that’s needed to slingshot this 6,000-pound cruiseship forward like a rock exiting a catapult. As before, standstill to 60 mph sprints take less than five seconds and, as before, the towering thrust is akin to a Gulfstream G550 on take-off. And despite its excessive proportions, getting used to its size takes just a few seconds, even on French country lanes about as wide as a bike path. The Rolls steers with precision, handles curves like its running on invisible rails, and rides like its floating on fluffy clouds. You’ll start a conversation about pricing at around $450,000 for a standard 2025 Cullinan II and $500,000 for the Black Badge, though a conversation with a Rolls-Royce Bespoke specialist could easily take any commission well past the $600,000 mark. But as for driving what is still without doubt the most-exquisite luxury SUV on the planet? Just priceless.
Winging It: 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Corvettes are wonderful things. Blisteringly quick. Insanely agile. More fun than a season’s pass to Busch Gardens. Easy to mistake one for a Ferrari, too. Especially if it’s painted red. Downsides? A few. Like there are only two seats. Trunk space? You’re packing light. And unless you’re under the age of 40, climbing in and out is a lesson in body origami. Now if you crave Corvette performance and handling with four doors and four seats, you need to take a look at Cadillac’s latest CT5-V Blackwing sedan rocketship. You won’t be disappointed. Like the ‘Vette, this thing comes with a 6.2-liter all-American V8 with more thrust than a Saturn rocket. Count the horseys – a total of 668, with a stump-pulling 659 lb-ft of torque. That’s a big step up from the base Corvette’s 490 hp, and right up there with the Z06 Corvette’s 670 hp And for the true, hot-shoe’d, red-blooded sportscar lover, the Blackwing comes standard with that one essential ingredient for driving nirvana – a six-speed manual transmission. Yup, a stick. While the CT5-V Blackwing has been around since 2022, it got a nip, tuck and jab of Botox for 2025. Nothing too radical. The front end was made a little more visually aggressive. Notice the wider, reshaped grille, new stacked headlights and new, pencil-thin LED running lights that plunge vertically down the front edge of the fender. Inside, the big news was the switch from last year’s 10-inch touchscreen and analog gauges, to a new 33-inch curved display that flows across the dash. It runs GM’s new Google-based infotainment interface. For buyers who want to head to the race track for fun, Cadillac engineers also came up with a new Precision Package to really transform the car into a track star. Stiffer springs, a larger front anti-roll bar, tighter steering, stickier rubber, carbon-ceramic brakes and some very trick performance data recording. It’s an $18,000 option. Talking of money, this latest Blackwing has a base price of $96,900. Pricey, yes. But its closest rival is BMW’s brand new M5 plug-in hybrid packing 717 hp, which kicks off at around $124,000. After a joyous week spent behind the Blackwing’s chunky wheel, wrangling that six-speed manual shifter, it’s easy to talk of the Caddy in the same breath as the M5. The testers at Car and Driver even rate it higher than the BMW. What this car is all about is sensational performance. The Caddy’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8 is one of the world’s greatest engines. Fabulously refined. Fabulously powerful. Fabulously vocal when revved. Pedal to the metal, it can catapult the Blackwing from standstill to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, do zero to 100 mph in 7.3, and not quit until the speedo needle is kissing the 205 mph mark. If stick-shifting isn’t your thing – and here in stop-start-traffic-Florida I can understand why it wouldn’t be – the Blackwing is offered with a 10-speed automatic. Interestingly, it’ll get you from 0-to-60 in a tenth of a second faster. There’s a real Jekyll and Hyde character here. Yes, it can rocket around a racetrack like it’s on fire. Yet it feels buttery-smooth and refined in daily commutes. With the stick shift, it’ll accelerate away in sixth gear from walking pace. Gripped tight in the Blackwing’s available carbon fiber-shelled front bucket seats, clinging to that thick-rimmed wheel, and the Caddy’s cabin is a wonderful place to be. It’s big and roomy too, with stretch-out space, especially in the rear. Plus a trunk Tony Soprano would love. There’s no word on just how long Cadillac will continue building this supercharged V8-powered, track-focused sedan projectile. Especially with its focus on EVs – the upcoming 615 hp all-electric Lyric-V will be the quickest Cadillac ever. So grab one while you can. It’s no wonder they call it the four-door Corvette.
Woo-Hoo: 2025 Mini JCW Countryman ALL4
Welcome to the Mini that’s now a Maxi. And a racy one at that. The brand new 2025 Mini JCW Countryman ALL4 might just be the most fun-loving SUV you can buy. And one that’s guaranteed to put a Julia Roberts-sized smile on your face every time you climb aboard. How can you not love a ride that has a virtual puppy-dog called Spike as your driving assistant? Or has a huge, family-pizza-sized circular touchscreen in the center of the dash that flashes up a puma when you hit the gas. And my favorite, a drive mode called Go-Kart that not only boosts power and firms-up suspension to go fast, but also emits a digitized “Woo Hoo” as if the car is saying “let’s play”. Yes, this latest Countryman is now a full-fledged SUV. Based closely on BMW’s X1 M35i sport-ute and, for the first time for a Mini, built in Germany, it’s now longer, taller and wider than the last Countryman. While Mini loyalists have been whining about the pumped-up, super-sized proportions, to me it’s another string on Mini’s always-evolving bow. See it in the parking lot and it towers above regular sedans. Size-wise it’s similar to BMW’s X1, Mercedes’ GLA and Audi’s Q3 with a nose-to-tail length of 175 inches. But the difference here is that the Mini stands out like Cyndi Lauper with a full pink hair-do. Especially with its funky two-tone paintwork. For 2025 it gets a major makeover, but it still keeps those head-turning lines, with all those curves, lumps and bumps, rounded roof, unmistakable LED-ringed headlights and bold grille. While this new-for-2025 Countryman line-up comes in S (base price $38,900) and all-electric SE (from $45,200), it’s the sporty JCW – short for John Cooper Works – that’s the equivalent of a triple espresso after a lifetime of decaf. Pricewise, the JCW starts at a competitive $47,895 and with a few options, like 20-inch rims and bigger brakes, tops out at around $52,000. Just like its BMW X1 sibling, this new JCW comes with a feisty 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder packing 308 horseys and 295 torques. It’s mated to a quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with DIY paddle shifters. Pedal to the metal and the Mini can zip from stop light to 60 mph in a hair under five seconds. Hit that Go-Kart drive mode, and you get lots of piped-in engine roar to add to the adrenaline rush. It really is a blast to drive, with a tower of power to make passing, or freeway merging a breeze, steering courtesy of a salami-thick wheel that’s as sharp as McDreamy’s scalpel, and brakes that can really stop time. Standard all-wheel drive, grippy rubber at each corner, and BMW-tuned suspension help this latest JCW carve curves as if it’s running on invisible rails. But it’s not all sportscar frenzy. Select “Green mode”, that’s accompanied by a soothing hummingbird graphic on that big screen, and everything quietens down, the suspension softens, the steering loses its sharp edge, and morning commutes become more genteel. That gives you time to take in the new Countryman’s re-designed interior, which might just have been created by Mattel with input from Fisher-Price. Take that amazing new touchscreen. It’s the world’s first 9.4-inch round OLED display and, while 9.4 inches doesn’t sound huge, sitting on the Mini’s dash it’s almost comically large. But it’s what it does that will drop your jaw and have passengers gasping in amazement at its innovative technology that was surely created by the folks at Pixar. Just explaining what it can do would fill the pages of a War & Peace. All the colors, cool graphics, its ability to stream movies or games, plus the clearest navigation graphics this side of an Apple retina display. Amazing. Of course those SUV proportions mean comfy seating for five, generous rear legroom and a cavernous load area. I loved every minute I spent with this new JCW Countryman. It really breaks the mold and delivers a fun-filled, playful, youthful, take on the traditional compact SUV formula. As the Go-Kart drive mode says, “Woo-Hoo”.