There is absolutely nothing more fun for a car lover like me to do than experience new vehicles on the open road. The Rocky Mountain Automotive Press recently had the opportunity to drive through the foothills southwest of Denver in some of the most popular vehicles that are available right now. The vehicles, supplied by various manufacturers, ranged from the McLaren Artura Spider to the Jeep Wagoneer S BEV. I am shown driving the all-new four-door 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV. The Rocky Mountain Driving Experience was a great success.
McLaren Drew the Most Attention
Nothing draws attention like a supercar and the McLaren Artura Spider did not disappoint. Priced at over $360,000, the Spider is a sight to behold. The nearly thirty writers flocked around it. My colleague John Goreham recently wrote an article about it and described it better than I can:
“The Artura Spider can allow you to enter the flow state. If you’re not familiar with this, perhaps a few analogies will help. It’s that feeling that Updike describes in Rabbit Run when Rabbit takes a jump shot and the ball falls perfectly through the hoop, touching nothing but net. It’s what Brad Marchand feels when he executes a nasty dangle around a D-man and then flips the puck up over the goaltender's blocker, knocking the water bottle off the top of the net. It’s David Crosby harmonizing with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills. Tiger Woods snapping off the perfect drive that hooks out of sight to land on the green, rolling to the ideal placement for a birdie putt. Sanford Koufax throwing a curveball that looks like it’s two feet outside the strike zone, but which lands in the very center of the catcher’s mitt for the game-winning strikeout.”
2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Appears to be Built for Colorado Roads
Subaru is typically one of the top-selling brands in Colorado and it is easy to see why. We were lucky to be able to drive the new Forester Hybrid. According to Miranda Jimenez, a Subaru product specialist, they have six people waiting for every hybrid they build. The Forester Hybrid is all-new; it is not in any other Subaru. This Forester is full-time all-wheel-drive and still gets a combined 35 miles per gallon. Miranda says that it is important to designers that this be a Subaru first and a hybrid second. While we were out driving, Miranda said her favorite thing about the compact CUV is “Its incredible off-road performance.” She went on to explain that it performs just like the regular Forester, hybrid owners aren’t going to miss out on any performance.
Dodge and Jeep EVs Handle the Steep Curves and Beautiful Backroads
It is unfortunate for Dodge and Jeep’s first BEVs that the EV market has cooled because both the 2025 Dodge Charger Daytona EV and the Jeep Wagoneer S are stunning. The Wagoneer S has a luxurious feel and appearance. It hugged the curves on the backroads and offers Jeep off-road capability. The premium SUV has 19 McIntosh speakers and five hundred horsepower, a perfect blend for enjoying a peaceful drive through the back country.
This was our first opportunity to drive the new four-door Dodge Charger Daytona EV. I must admit, I was not willing to drive it very fast once the rain started and the roads could be slippery. However, after the rain stopped, another journalist did step on it and it performed well. This Bludicrous blue beauty has up to 670-horsepower. Later this year, Dodge will release a 2026 version with the new gas-powered HURRICANE Inline 6. The all-new Dodge Charger SIXPACK H.O. is powered by the 3.0L Twin Turbo Hurricane High Output engine. It is expected to produce 550-horsepower, which is impressive. Fans are clamoring for a HEMI-powered Charger Daytona, but insiders tell me that the car isn’t configured to hold a HEMI at this point. Of course, engineers can change just about every aspect of a vehicle, if customers want it badly enough.
A Beautiful Day in the Foothills
Any day driving in Colorado is spectacular, even with a little rain. Subaru also brought its sporty, little WRX tS. The all-wheel drive sedan handles the curves like a pro and is outfitted with racing seats and Brembo brakes. Obviously, the Forester might handle the winter in Colorado better but the sporty sedan is a lot of fun! Toyota was well-represented with the 4Runner rugged TRD Pro and also the 4Runner Limited. The luxury Lexus 700h F Sport has just enough sport in its DNA to make it fun while always staying top-of-the-line. The Kia Sorento X-Pro is a great example of why Kia sales have exploded in recent years. The Sorento functions well on the curves, is comfortable and is more affordable than most of its competitors. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 gets great reviews. The three-row electric SUV seats six or seven and has a range of slightly over 300 miles. The Acura ADX is one of Acura’s most popular vehicles. It always performs well. Technically, the ADX is classified as a subcompact SUV but it doesn’t feel cramped when you are driving it. Honda will tell you that its Passport TrailSport is designed for adventure and they aren’t kidding. It has plenty of capability and is ready to go off-roading. The Genesis GV70 is probably one of the vehicles best suited for the current uncertainty in the automotive market. The compact luxury SUV is available with both gasoline and electric powertrains so drivers can have their cake and drive it, too.
One of the most appealing things about driving in Colorado is the ever-changing terrain. Our route took us through beautiful scenery, with plenty of elevation changes and varied speeds. We experienced city, highway and country driving. It is always a great place to test a new vehicle.
Mary Conway Photo
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
