Soon, compact pickup truck buyers in the U.S. will have a new choice, but it comes with a twist. As early as 2026, Michigan-based EV startup Slate Auto will begin production on its first electric trucks. Founded in 2022 and funded by big names like Jeff Bezos and LA Dodgers owner Mark Walter, this company […]
Author: Michael Stridsberg
Michael is a professional writer with a lifelong passion for the automotive world. He spent six years as the media director for Thunder Road Speedbowl and currently serves as the track’s Victory Lane announcer and pit reporter. He is also interested in muscle cars and hopes to one day own a vintage Ford Mustang. Michael graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a performance and technical theater degree. When not writing or talking about cars, he enjoys playing guitar, working out, reading, and watching football.
Why is Mercedes-Benz Making PHEVs with One Mile of Electric Range?
Few automakers have rivaled the drive towards electric technology that Mercedes-Benz is on. From all-electric vehicles like the EQS sedan and SUV to an assortment of mild hybrids and PHEVs, this German luxury automaker has a commanding presence in the ever-expanding market. Two more vehicles have gotten the electric treatment in recent years. For 2024, […]
How Jeep Invented the SUV
Every epic story has a beginning, from The Odyssey to The Lord of the Rings. The tale of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) is no exception. Once a small part of the automotive market, SUVs and their cousin, the crossover, now account for 58 percent of all new U.S. vehicles sold, and worldwide revenue is […]
The Great Central Instrument Cluster Debate
For decades, if a driver wanted important information about their speed, RPM, oil pressure, and other data, the answers were directly in front of them. Whether analog or digital, instrument clusters have historically been mounted on the driver’s side dashboard above and/or behind the steering wheel. It was as close to a universal feature as […]
How Adventure-Ready Are the 2025 Sportage X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige?
Americans are seeking outdoor adventures in record numbers. According to the most recent Outdoor Participation Trends Report, 57.3% of U.S. residents age six or older, over 175 million people, take part in outdoor activities, and the average person does so over 60 times a year. While some of those adventures can be done within walking […]
The Redesigned BMW X3 Blends Compact Luxury With Sporty Performance
For more than 20 years, the BMW X3 has proudly waved the flag as the compact entry of BMW’s famed X series. Introduced just a few years after the X5, which marked the automaker’s foray into the SUV market, the X3 eventually surpassed its big brother, regularly topping all other BMW vehicles on the annual […]
A Guide to the World of EV Charging Port Types
In a perfect world, every EV would use the same type of charger in every situation, much like you use the same gas pump for every ICE vehicle. But much like there are USB-C cables for Android phones and Lightning cables for Apple phones, EV operators have several charging port options, and they must know […]
The Coolest Features of the Lexus LM Minivan and Why We Want It in the US
One of the world’s most interesting minivans isn’t currently available to US customers, and whether it ever will remains to be seen. Lexus introduced the Lexus LM hybrid minivan for the 2020 model year, followed by the second-generation model in 2024. It’s been compared to a sci-fi vehicle, a private jet on wheels, and a […]
What Are the Engine Options for Each Grand Cherokee Model Year?
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a long history—and with it, a long engine history. There have been periods where the engine designs and options changed almost annually as Jeep sought to fine-tune the offerings. Trim availability and the engines they came with saw regular updates, too. If you are interested in a used Jeep Grand […]
Questions to Ask Yourself When Shopping for a Used Toyota Tundra
Buying a used truck can be a great choice for many people regardless of make and model, and the legendarily reliable Toyota Tundra is no exception. Nearly three million Tundra’s have been sold in the US as of this writing, and a typical Tundra can easily go 250,000 miles with proper maintenance—multiple Tundras have famously […]
Will Maserati’s Attempted Comeback Succeed?
It’s been a long time since anyone at AutoInfluence wrote about Maserati. That, in and of itself, is telling. What was long considered the pinnacle of Italian luxury automobiles and one of the most frequently mentioned car brands in rap music, according to Car and Driver, has become an afterthought. In six of the last […]
The Buick Envista Costs Less and Gives Drivers More Than Other Affordable Cars and SUVs
Historically, Buick has been known as a premium automotive brand, slotted one spot below Cadillac on the GM luxury ladder. This made the Buick Envista’s arrival for the 2024 model year a major shift in the eyes of the car-buying public. Starting at just $22,400 for the entry-level Preferred trim and $28,600 for the top-end […]
How the 2025 Hyundai Palisade Joins the Luxury SUV Conversation
People think of certain names when someone mentions luxury vehicles. BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Acura, and Bentley are some of the names synonymous with luxury driving, but notice how I didn’t mention Hyundai Motors as one of those names. Indeed, for decades, Hyundai’s reputation has been a high-value brand with modern cars and leading warranties, […]
The Top 6 Used Luxury SUVs for Buyers On a Budget
Luxury SUVs are making up a larger and larger portion of the cars for sale today—not just in the United States but everywhere. The appetite for SUVs is well known; when you add features like high-performance engines, sophisticated aesthetics, cutting-edge technology, and premium materials, it’s no wonder people are hungry for a luxury version. This […]
Ford Continues to Expand Pro Power Onboard—What’s Next?
In 2021, Ford made a splash with the introduction of its Pro Power Onboard system. This technology integrates a mobile generator into a vehicle so it can supply 120V or 240V AC power on the go, letting you operate everything from power tools to microwaves. However, the original rollout was limited. The generator was only […]
Why the Adventurous 2025 Honda Passport Deserves a Second Look
When the Passport returned to the Honda SUV line-up in 2019 after a 17-year hiatus, questions abounded about whether it would succeed. The original Passport, which was Honda’s first SUV, ran from 1994 to 2002 but fizzled out at the end, selling less than 4,000 units in its final model year before being replaced by […]
Chinese EVs Could Shake Up the American Car Market
Like a giant snowball rolling down a hill and getting bigger as it goes, Chinese EVs are gobbling up the worldwide market. The US International Trade Commission reports that between 2018 and 2023, Chinese EV exports grew by 1,016%, totaling nearly 1.6 million vehicles—more than any other nation. They’re also ranked second only to Germany […]
Who Is Cupra? And Why Should You Care?
In March 2024, news broke that a new car brand was planning to enter the US market. Cupra, a high-performance marque originating in Spain and rapidly spreading across Europe and Mexico, now has its sights set on North America with hopes of being ready for launch by 2030. It’s now been nearly a year since […]
Supersized: The Biggest Wheeled Vehicles Ever Made
It’s no secret the average vehicle is getting bigger. According to data from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, the average American car in 2023 was 22 inches longer and 12 inches wider than a decade before. Weight has also increased, with EPA data showing the average current heft of 4,300 lbs has increased […]
Why Haven’t Robotaxis Taken Over the US Yet?
Ever since development began on autonomous vehicles, speculation has run rampant about the rise of self-driving taxis, more popularly known as robot taxis or robotaxis. In 2017, outlets from the Wall Street Journal to Forbes were predicting robotaxis and other self-driving vehicles would soon lead to the end of car ownership in big cities. More […]