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”.
Plug and Play: 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Plug-in Hybrid
So where can 50 miles take you? How about 20 times around the Daytona 500 racetrack? Or 12 times across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Or nine times across the new Howard Frankland Bridge when it opens this spring. Fifty miles is also the distance – 54 to be precise – that Mercedes-Benz’s brand new plug-in hybrid GLC 350e sport ute can run on zero-emission, stealthy-silent, battery power. For most of us, that’s more than enough range to cover daily commutes, school runs, trips to Trader Joe’s, and dinners out. Keep it charged and you might not have to add gas for, well, ever. Mercedes’ much-loved GLC 300 has had hybrid-assist technology since its redesign in 2023. It gets great gas mileage, but can’t run on battery power alone. That’s where this new 350e comes in. It teams a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 23.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a beefy electric motor. The gas and electric combo delivers a stout 313 horseys and 406 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to zoom you from stoplight to 60 mph in around six seconds. But to me, it’s the electric part that’s the most fun. Being a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) means there’s none of that pesky range anxiety that can come with a full electric. When the juice runs out after those 54-or-so miles, there’s the 201-hp gas motor to take over. And battery power is there to assist when you need a little extra oomph to zip past slower traffic, or merge confidently from an on-ramp. Foot to the floor sprints from standstill are a blast. I just spent a week with this 2025 GLC 350e and came away thoroughly impressed. For someone not quite ready to take the leap into a fully-electric EV, it’s a great solution. There are a couple of compromises. The first is weight. When you start adding big batteries and a big, beefy electric motor, you’re lugging around an extra 700-plus pounds. That’s like having two Sumo wrestlers in the back seat. Then there’s the cost. Compared to the mild-hybrid GLC 300, the 350e adds roughly $7,500 to the sticker. Not a lot, but it puts the compact SUV’s base price at $61,050 or, in the case of our tester, $74,970 nicely-loaded. But as an all-round package, this new plug-in hybrid Benz is, to me, just hard to beat. It looks terrific, it’s a great size with seats for five and lots of load space, it’s a breeze to park, and you sit up high for great all-round visibility. It’s fun to drive too. That combo of standard Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel drive and all that battery weight low down under the rear cargo area, gives confident handling and a smooth, comfy ride. Charging at my apartment building’s ChargePoint Level 2 station, pumping-in around 6kW an hour, had the battery fully charged from pretty much zero to 57 miles in around three hours. Find a DC fast-charging station, and the Merc can accept up to 60 kilowatts, giving an 80 per cent charge in about 30 minutes. And in a day’s meandering around town, sticking to electric-only power, the 350e ran for an impressive 62 miles before the gas motor kicked in. That’s around double the distance of rival plug-in hybrids, like the Volvo XC60, the Audi Q5 and Lexus NX PHEVs. Inside, it’s typical, all-luxury, beautifully-built Mercedes-Benz, with stretch-out seating for five, with surprisingly generous kneeroom and headroom in the rear. Spend the extra $1,500 for the huge panorama sunroof to flood the cabin with light; you won’t regret it. Yes, for that $75,000 price tag of a loaded 350e you could step up into the roomier, more powerful, plug-in GLE 450e, base price $71,350. But you’re down to a 48-mile electric range and you add even more bulk. No, cut back on the options, stay close to that $61,000 base price, and this GLC 350e is a winner.
Livin’ Large: 2025 Chevrolet Suburban High Country
Not that long ago, Chevy’s rugged Suburban might have been considered the poor relation to General Motors’ other XXL-sized offerings, the Caddy Escalade and GMC Yukon Denali. All that black plastic trim, wipe-down faux leather seats, and dull-looking wheels were fine for an undercover FBI agent or New York limo driver. But definitely not a symbol of luxury. Not any more. I’ve just spent the week piloting a new, 2025 flagship Suburban High Country, base price $84,200 or, like our tester, $95,000 very nicely loaded. Ninety-five grand for a Chevy? Want to run that by me again. But with this latest High Country, the Suburban has truly gone luxe, with enough leather to fill a Coach handbag store, enough tech to satisfy a 14-year-old, and the kind of build quality that wouldn’t be out of place in a Lexus. Who’s buying this $95-large Suburban? Most likely current Chevy owners who love the Bow-Tie brand and probably already have a Corvette or bling’d out Silverado pick-up in the garage. Add to those, maybe someone who wants a high-luxury, full-size, leather-lined SUV that doesn’t scream “I’m loaded” as an Escalade, or even a chrome-mawed Yukon might do. Someone looking for a display of “stealth wealth”. The Chevy is not alone in offering big-sticker, big-size domestic SUVs. Who, five years ago, would have imagined a Jeep with a $115,000 price tag. That’s what a new Grand Wagoneer L can cost these days. Or $121,000-and-up for a new Lincoln Navigator Black Label. Yet a couple of hours behind the wheel of this newest Suburban, and it starts to make sense. If you can live without neighbors and golf club buddies being non-plussed that you’re driving a Chevy, it has a lot going for it. For 2025, it helps that the big ‘Burb got a nip-and-tuck facelift. Nothing too radical; a refreshed front end with a new grille, new LED lights and some fancy nickel chrome called Galvano. Two new colors too, including this lovely shade called Lakeshore Blue Metallic. Best of all are those new-for-’25, towering 24-inch rims, available for the first time on a Suburban as a must-have $2,225 option. Remember when 20-inchers were considered huge? Inside, changes are more extensive and include an all-new 17.7-inch touchscreen that’s paired with the 11-inch screen instrument display and big head-up display on the windshield. And in this latest High Country, for the first time on a Suburban, there’s genuine wood trim on the dash. Goes perfectly with the heated-and-cooled, perforated leather seats with fancy High Country logos embroidered in the seat backs. As always with any Suburban, the cabin is cavernous, with three rows of La-Z-Boy-comfy seats and accommodation for up to eight. Lots of load space too, especially with the third row folded. With the High Country package you also get a vast panoramic glass roof that runs almost front to back, along with must-have retractable power side steps. Without them you’d be buying a ladder from Ace to climb-up inside. Powering this three-ton leviathan is GM’s mighty 6.2-liter V8 coupled to a 10-speed automatic. It packs a muscular 420 horseys and stump-pulling 460 pound-feet of torque. Hook a big Chris-Craft to the back and with an 8,200-pound towing capacity, you’d hardly notice it was there. It’s a lovely engine/transmission combo that delivers whisper-quiet highway cruising yet can slingshot the Suburban away from stop lights, or merge effortlessly with interstate traffic. With the High Country spec, you also get adaptive dampers and air suspension which, coupled with the Suburban’s multilink independent rear, gives the kind of magic carpet ride Alibaba would be proud of. Subtle changes to the steering for ’25 gives the driver a little more confidence when trying to thread this whopper through narrow streets, or make quick lane changes on the freeway. But here there’s no disguising its bulk. Not having driven a Suburban for a while, I have to admit I was thoroughly impressed with the new level of sophistication, refinement and agility that comes with the latest version, especially this flagship High Country. No, it’s not an Escalade, but it’s now a real alternative to GMC’s Yukon. Maybe don’t call it a Chevy. It’s a Chevro-laay.
Show Time: Don’t miss this year’s St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show
Boat lovers rejoice. It’s mid-January in Florida, which can mean only one thing, it’s boat show time. And opening its doors this Thursday for a four-day run is the 47th annual St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show Presented by Progressive. I love this show. The weather will be great; trust me. Sun and blue skies, crisp temps and no humidity. And the setting, in downtown St. Pete in the Mahaffey Yacht Basin alongside Alfred Whitted airport, is hard to beat. Still the largest boat show on the Gulf Coast, this year it’ll feature over 400 new and used boats, from classy motor yachts, to sporty center consoles, from racy sailboats to inflatables, to kayaks. As always, there’ll be something for everyone. From a $4 million superyacht, to a floating keyring from the massive 40,000 square-foot tent packed with marine gear and accessories. Come to buy, come to dream, come for a rum cocktail at Goslings’ red-roofed floating Island Bar, you won’t be disappointed. Of course this year’s show might have a different vibe from recent years. Back-to-back hurricanes last fall damaged, or destroyed, thousands of boats. I’m hoping owners will have insurance checks in-hand and are chomping on the bit for a new craft. It’s also no secret that the boating market softened during 2024. High interest rates, market uncertainty, and a general lack of consumer confidence saw new boat sales in the U.S. drop by between nine and 12 per cent, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. That could be good news for buyers. With demand down from the crazy post-COVID days, dealers and brokers will likely be more eager to negotiate a keener price to fill-up order books. And who doesn’t love those hard-to-resist ‘boat show specials’? According to the NMMA, the biggest demand in the boat market continues to be single-engine center console fishing boats, personal watercraft and, interestingly, pontoon boats. The show will likely be packed with them, both in-water and on-land. With marine powerhouses Marine Max and Nautical Ventures back at this year’s show, there’ll certainly be no shortage of new and used models to see. Marine Max plans to have at least 15 new models on display, including the brand new 95-foot Ocean Alexander 28L superyacht – set to be the biggest yacht at the show. The $4.25 million cruiser is fresh from its world debut at last fall’s Fort Lauderdale boat show and will be hard to miss. Add to that, a new Aquila 54 power catamaran from Clearwater-based Aquila, the innovative Saxdor 320 GTO outboard fast cruiser, and the Tampa-built 2025 Bertram 39CC center console. Fans of Wellcraft should make a bee-line to the Nautical Ventures display where the groundbreaking new Wellcraft 355 outboard-powered cruiser is being displayed. With its rugged hardtop design, glass-filled saloon, innovative below-deck accommodations and triple Mercury 350 power, it can take you on any adventure. But it’s not all power boats; the show’s display of sleek sailboats grows in size every year. We can’t wait to step aboard the stunning new French-built Jeanneau 55, being displayed by Atlas Yacht Sales. Voted Cruising World’s 2024 Boat of the Year, it breaks the mold when it comes to cockpit design, with its hard dodger and dual cockpit. The show opens on Thursday and runs from 10am to 6pm. Same with Friday and Saturday, with the show ending on Sunday at 4pm. As with last year, there’s no ticket office, with the organizers asking visitors to buy online at stpeteboatshow.com. General admission tickets are $23 for adults, while kids 15 and under get-in free. Veterans and active duty service members also get free entry with a military ID.
Best of 2024: Cadillac’s All-Electric Lyriq AWD
The question any new car reviewer always gets, apart from can you get me a friends-and-family rate on a new Corvette, is ‘what’s your favorite car’? Until recently, I’d dodge the question, by asking how much they wanted to spend, and whether they wanted a sedan or SUV, or gas motor or electric. In other words I really didn’t want to commit. Then a couple of weeks back, I got to spend a week with the latest Cadillac Lyriq all-electric crossover, painted a happy shade of baby blue. And I have to say I was wowed more than a 12-year-old after a Taylor Swift concert. So, in true New Year’s Honors List fashion, I officially proclaim the Registry Tampa Bay Weekend Wheels Best Automobile of 2024 to be the Cadillac Lyriq Luxury 3 AWD. Yup, it’s that good. Just look at the thing. It’s wild enough to be mistaken for some auto show concept dream machine that has zero chance of making it into production. Only it did. I love the mile-long, drop-dead-gorgeous roofline, that towering waistline and ski-slope-like windshield. Standing still, it looks like it’s spearing along at 150 mph. Then there’s that absolutely jaw-descending front end. Cadillac calls it a ‘Black Crystal Shield’ that incorporates a multitude of brighty-white LEDs. Best viewed at night, a press of the key fob initiates a choreographed light show worthy of Times Square on New Year’s Eve. Maybe the best part is the illumination of those Cadillac trademark vertical light bars that incorporate a stack of nine LED cubes that light-up in sequence. It’s a light show that will have heads spinning, fingers pointing, mouths gaping, and cell phones clicking. Magical doesn’t come close. There’s just as much awesomeness when you climb aboard. It starts with the floating center console with storage everywhere, and ends with the 33-inch, high-def, curved, digital screen that sprawls across the dashboard. Inside the cabin, there’s stretch-out seating for five, impressive rear-seat space, generous luggage space, and a feeling of light- and-airiness courtesy of a truly massive panoramic glass roof. And the quality and craftsmanship, the fit and the finish are just terrific. From the glove-soft Nappa leather for the seats, to the lovely brushed-metal edgings for the screen and dash, and top-notch plastics. Of course, much of the Lyriq’s considerable appeal is its electric powertrain. While the base, single-motor model packs 340 hp, for me it’s the dual-motor, all-wheel drive Luxury version packing an impressive 500 hp that’s the one to go for. This one will also go the distance. Cadillac puts the range of the dual-motor Luxury at 307 miles, or just one mile less than the single-motor version. And with its DC fast-charging capability, it can add up to 76 miles of range in around 10 minutes. What proved to be the icing on the cake for me was simply the way this new Lyriq drives. While it’s not the fastest EV out there – a Tesla Model X and BMW iX are quicker – the Caddy is arguably the smoothest. Just like a Cadillac should be, it is spookily silent, aided by standard double-glazed glass, advanced noise cancellation tech to reduce road noise, and those whisper-quiet electric motors. Even though the Lyriq’s focus is on refinement and relaxed driving, this nearly 6,000-pound crossover feels plenty lively. Click the stopwatch and it’ll show 0-to-60 mph sprinting in a zippy 4.6 seconds, accompanied by that lovely EV slingshot lunge away from the lights. Lovely precise and nicely-weighted steering too, together with low-roll cornering and plenty of grip from the 22-inch rubber at each corner. But the magic-carpet-smooth ride reminds you that you’re driving a Cadillac. Add to all this, Cadillac’s best-in-the-business Super Cruise hands-free, semi-autonomous driving system that can safely change lanes to pass. Full marks too to the terrific one-pedal braking system. If that wasn’t enough, the 2025 Lyriq’s pricing is an absolute steal. It starts at $58,595 and tops-out with the Sport 3 at $71,090. That’s less than the Kia EV9 GT-Line AWD I tested last year. So a round of applause please for the good folks at Cadillac for building such a benchmark EV. The trophy is in the mail.
Tower of Power: Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II
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. Think of it as an extra slathering of Grey Poupon. 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. Parked on the crunchy gravel courtyard of the spectacular Château La Coste hotel 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. 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 greasy 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. I love the new clock with a mini-me Spirit of Ecstasy set behind a teeny glass panel. Just in case you forgot what you’re driving. 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 and using more than 2.2 million stitches and 11 miles of thread to create an abstract interpretation of the interlocking RR logo. A squeeze of the throttle 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.
Super Coupe: 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 Coupe
It’s a sad fact that sales of sporty two-door coupes these days are right up there with Segway scooters, Google Glass, and Crystal Pepsi. Remember the Microsoft Zune? No, me neither. This is not a new phenomena. They’ve been falling off a cliff for probably a decade. Who wants two doors when you can have four? Who wants a hardtop when you can have a convertible? But full disclosure here. I’ve always had a soft spot for a great-looking coupe with a swoopy roofline. Give me a sexy Bentley Continental GT, oh-so-sleek Lexus LC500, or Porsche 911. Aston Martin’s DB12 coupe? Be still my beating heart. Yet this year alone, sporty coupes like Chevy’s Camaro, the Dodge Challenger, Jaguar F-Type, Audi R8 and Nissan GT-R have all been relegated to that automotive resting place in the sky. So full credit to Mercedes-Benz for not junking their C-Class and E-Class coupes when it came to new product decisions. Well that’s not strictly true. There’s no coupe-bodied C or E for 2025. What they’ve done instead is combine them into one car. They call it the CLE. I’ve just spent a joyous week piloting arguably the most desirable of the CLE line-up, the new CLE 450 Coupe, base price $66,800, or $77,770 very nicely loaded. This CLE 450 sits neatly between the entry CLE 300 that uses a mild-hybrid 255-horse turbo-four (from $57,600) and the performance-focused, AMG-tuned 443-hp CLE 53, priced from $73,950. The 450, to me, hits the sweet spot. Under that curvy hood sits a turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder that’s coupled to a 48-volt integrated starter-generator and beefier battery. No, it won’t let the Merc zip around under electric-only power. But it will add as much as 23 horseys and 151 pound-feet of torque for zippier off-the-line acceleration and easy sprints past slower traffic. Combine gas and electric and the CLE 450 delivers a total of 375 horsepower and 369 torques. That’s enough for zero-to-60 slingshots in a not-too-shabby 4.2 seconds, and speedy exits out of freeway on-ramps. In addition to breezy, refined performance, the CLE delivers some sharp handling – aided and abetted by standard 4Matic all-wheel drive and a ‘sport’ setting for the suspension. A terrific nine-speed automatic adds to the fun, with paddles on the steering column for DIY shifting. Of course, you buy a two-door coupe for its sexy lines. And here the CLE is right up there with Victoria’s Secret supermodels. Gazed at in profile, that shaped-by-the-wind roofline is a thing of true beauty. Love that mile-long hood as well. One disappointment is that unlike the previous pillarless E-Class coupe, this newcomer has a central door pillar, like the previous C-Class two-door. No big deal, but having both side windows lowered in an interrupted space dates back to some of Mercedes’ most iconic coupes, like the classy 280SE and landmark 560 SEC. Inside, it’s the usual Mercedes quality, craftsmanship and cool design. The fascia is dominated by an oversized iPad of a central touchscreen – it’s 11.9 inches diagonally – with a 12.3-inch digital display in front of the driver. It’s the same complaint I have with most modern Mercs in that there are no longer any physical buttons to tap or knobs to twist. Everything is on the central touchscreen, with a multitude of pages to swipe, or menus to wade through. Thankfully, the ever-helpful “Hey Mercedes” voice command is there to help, though she still sometimes struggles with my British accent. Up front, the bucket-like seats, with their perforated, diamond-quilted leather, are supremely comfy and supportive, and come with welcome cooling and massaging functions. While you don’t buy a two-door coupe for sumptuous rear seating, the CLE can accommodate a couple of average-size humans in surprising comfort. Climbing back there is fairly easy, thanks to long, wide-opening doors and automatic-powering front seats, though headroom for anyone close to six-foot is on the tight side. But this CLE 450 is all about driving fun. Gripping that salami-thick, flat-bottom wheel, dialing up the ‘sport’ drive mode, and hearing that turbo in-line ‘six’ sing as the revs soar, is nothing short of magical. What this newest Mercedes does perfectly is blend luxury with athleticism, together with a whole lot of style. Call it the coupe de thrill.