Gear Patrol

When it’s time to make tracks — whether you’re escaping the daily grind or heading to the next adventure — few things will make or break your time on the open road more than the vehicle you’re piloting. Sometimes it’s best to tailor your ride to the destination; sometimes, the car itself should play more of a starring role in your road trip story than your map waypoints do. Why not go all out? From fun-to-fling to made-to-cruise to needs-to-be-seen, we dreamed up our ten fantasy road trip cars, one ideal for every getaway.

Sometimes being American causes us great pain, especially when it comes to rides we can (1) never afford (which seems to occur often) and (2) never see in the States. Like a hot poker in the eye, Land Rover has issued a celebratory 65th Anniversary all-terrain yak known simply as the Land Rover Defender LXV (~$44,500).

Time for a driveway upgrade? Gear Patrol’s new series, “Want This, Get This”, moves to the automotive space this week, presenting a lust-worthy SUV along with a more affordable alternative that scratches the same itch. Read on for the dream car (BMW X5 M) and its reality-based substitute (Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8).

When the Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari rolls around each year in Moab, Utah, we get a tantalizing look at some of the manliest Jeeps on the planet, crafted specifically for the show. This year, Jeep, partnered with Mopar, has just released details and photos of no fewer than six rock-crushing Moab Easter Jeep Safari Concepts. Each one is lust worthy and rugged enough to make your weak poseur crossover pee on itself.

Trucks. Sure, they’re unnecessary for most of the population, borderline politically incorrect in some circles, and sort of an unnatural presence in the average, mostly-urban lifestyle. But we can’t stop loving pickups. The pickup is about as American as it gets, and until your cute little crossover can haul a boat and a couch simultaneously — in the snow — we’re quite content to keep ‘em around, thanks. This year’s new models all showcase a lot of brawn, and even toss in a bit of green to go with it

Though completely redesigned, the new 2014 Acura MDX 7-passenger crossover, slated to go on sale in mid-2013, isn’t exactly unfamiliar. Gone is the arrowhead-sharp front clip of yore in favor of a more brand-cohesive, sweeping profile. A warmed-over version of Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 stays on board, this time with more torque and higher efficiency. For…

Sand people rejoice. The Mopar Customized Jeep Wrangler Sand Trooper, originally introduced at SEMA last year, made a prominent appearance at NAIAS today. The beast marks the inception of the off-road division of Mopar and does so with beefy presence. With tires big enough to to float a barge, the Sand Trooper is the kind…

You don’t have to believe that the end of the Mayan calendar signifies the beginning of the end, you just have to go to your local theater and see how many apocalyptic movies are out. It’s like we want it to happen. Whatever the case, make sure your bug out bag is ready, have ample…

How do you really define overkill? Is 510 horsepower too much or just being prepared? If your $100K luxury SUV can climb a 45 degree muddy slope in a forest, but only goes on grocery runs, does it really make a sound? The 2013 Range Rover Sport Supercharged answers the question, “what if you wanted…

From the revamped A-Class to mysterious Affalterbach gems, Mercedes knows a thing or two about pushing the boundaries of automotive design. Most of their time has been spent developing on-road capabilities — but at this year’s LA Design Challenge, Mercedes gave us a look into the off-road future with their Ener-G-Force. For Mercedes, this isn’t…

If you’re wearing your finest cowboy boots, a $1,000 matching hat with a brim the size of a satellite dish and a mustache that rivals Sam Elliot’s, boy have we got the truck for you. The all new 2013 Ram 1500 has been redesigned inside and out to accommodate the rough and tumble — but…

If you hanker for an impressive triumvirate of modern technology, off-road chops and vintage style, look no further than the utterly desirable Legacy Power Wagon ($114,950+). Need to pull out King Kong’s molars? This would be your truck of choice. In two or four-door format, the Legacy Power Wagon (by Legacy Classic Trucks) is based…

Any forward thinker interested in buying an electric vehicle today is normally faced with two choices: Pick a generic people carrier with the driving excitement of a Radio Flyer from one of a handful of major manufacturers; or dredge the slush fund and hop on a waiting list for a conscience-clearing geek rocket from boutique…

If you fancy yourself a lover of history, the outdoors, bowler hats and cigars, look no further. The Winston Churchill Series 1 Land Rover goes up for auction in the Cheffins Vintage Sale on October 20th, 2012. The included original logbook shows the vehicle as UKE 80, owned by Rt Hon. Sir Winston Spencer Churchill,…

New Mexico seems other-worldly to those unaccustomed to the arid nature of the South West. But the desert-like atmosphere isn’t as stark as you might think. From Albuquerque to Santa Fe, the adobe style homes fit in well with the captivating landscape. Blue sky and enormous cumulus clouds as far as the eye can see…

We’ve got a huge soft spot for Land Rover, so we were stoked to get wind of details behind the 2013 Range Rover. Though it’s not nearly as radical in design as the Evoque we recently drove, it does borrow some of the athletic design cues from its baby brother. The shape, though essentially unchanged,…

Conquest Vehicles describes their new Conquest Evade ($579,000) as “elegant.” And that’s certainly the case if your notion of elegance involves looking like a giant knurled iron fist on wheels. It’s their follow up to Conquest’s 13,000 pound, fully armored Knight XV. The Evade weighs “significantly less,” according to Conquest, which should aid in performance,…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST We have a new appreciation for the Windy City for all its history and all that’s fresh and new. From jazz roots and architectural gems to outdoor splendors and new attractions, Chicago is a city that warrants prolonged visits, permanent stays and never-ending wonderment. We engaged Chicago in the comforts of…

If you’re looking for quite possibly the most stylish cute/brute-ute on the planet, you won’t have to look much further than the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. Not so loosely based on 2008′s LRX Concept, the Evoque is meant to turn heads, empty wallets and generally be driven by urban dwellers who have no…

A couple of months ago, news of the Nissan Juke-R Concept hit the web. Nissan execs Jerry Hardcastle and Paul Wilcox gave the project the nod and approached the minds at Ray Mallock, Ltd. in the UK, who subsequently chopped at Nissan GTR by 250 mm and saved the all-wheel drive system, suspension and beefy…

Here at GP, we’re all about refinement and sophistication. But sometimes you just want the kind of visceral brashness that creates shock and awe. This is where a vehicle like the VWerks Red Jacket Jeep ($115,000) fits in nicely. VWerks is a custom builder in Michigan that’s in the business of building specialty vehicles and…

Jeep’s are legendary for their ability to go anywhere, but what do you do when you get there?. The At Action Camper ($53,500) is designed for extended expeditions into the bush, and features 6’3? of interior headroom, a king-size bed, three-burner stove, sink, 40 liter top-loading refrigerator, integrated dining table, chemical toilet, plenty of storage…

When the photos for the 2013 Ford Escape landed in our inbox we immediately thought two things. First, the superb job Ford did bringing the Vertrek concept to fruition without sacrificing the design. Second, how the dynamic Ford Focus (read: European) aesthetic actually works in small crossover utility form. Yes we too have a little…

With the blessing and assistance from Ford MoCo in the way of CAD files, archivals and tech support, ICON began the project to bring this stunning ICON 1968 Ford Bronco to life. It began with five extremely hard to come by uncut-fender late 1960′s Ford Broncos. ICON then garnered both emotional and financial support from…

We don’t envy Land Rover. Upgrading, modifying, or simply touching their icon, the Defender is about as much of a Pandora’s Box as they come. But such is the way of progress, and in just a month, Land Rover will be unveiling their first concept, the DC100 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Like any concept,…

The current Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is undoubtedly a rubber roaster. Heck, it’ll even cook unwitting sports cars just for fun. The Hennessey version is even more ferocious. Well, Bulgarian tuner Vilner decided to dial up the heat even more with the 2011 Vilner Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT600. Still utilizing Hennessey’s Vortech turbo powered 5.7…

Armageddon is just around the corner. Okay, maybe not. But just in case, there are some niche vehicles out there that are up to the task (you know, traversing washed out roads, bludgeoning snowbanks and mowing down zombies). American Expedition Vehicles knows. They just built one such vehicle by outfitting a standard Jeep Rubicon 4×4…