Toyota's bright-blue Sequoia SUV makes some waves

This review first appeared in the May 2026 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Sacramento, California -- Toyota calls it Wave Maker.

It's the exterior paint color on the tested 2026 Toyota Sequoia 4WD TRD Pro Hybrid, a three-row sport-utility vehicle that demands attention.

And it does indeed make waves.

The color has been described as a vibrant blue-teal, but that doesn't really cut it.  Super blue works. Teal on steroids is closer to the truth.

Take it anywhere and heads snap around, eyes fixed on the vivid beauty. It's safe to say that you'll never have trouble finding it in a crowded parking lot, even if it's parked a quarter mile away.

Bottom line: I liked it.  And yeah, I liked the attention it drew.

But color is just the beginning.

The tester was a beast ... a bicep bulging, big-shouldered marvel with massive tires capable of taming seemingly any off-road terrain.

And it had the guts to back it up.

Power is provided by a 3.4-liter, twin-turbo V-6 rated at 437 horsepower and a monster 583 foot-pounds of torque.  It rumbles upon start-up, and on the go it gobbles up space like a ravenous Pac-Man.

I can't imagine anything in the off-road world slowing it down.  A mountain, maybe.

For special terrain challenges, there's technology to help out. In addition to multi-terrain settings, the Crawl Control feature functions as a low-speed, off-road cruise control -- maintaining speed while the driver concentrates on steering.

Descent control is also part of the standard package.

The inside of the tester was appropriately macho, with rugged, black floor mats featuring raised, hard-rubber patterns -- sort of a mini-Grand Canyon of floor protection.

But for all its get-outta-my-way machismo, the tester was likewise equipped with civilized perks -- massaging seats and a sophisticated multimedia system among them.

Power folding rear seats are a plus, creating a sizable cargo-carrying space or comfort for three.

Fuel mileage comes in a 19 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

And the bottom line on the tester was a hefty $88,196. Pricey, but given the package, a fair number.

All in all, this is an off-road vehicle of your dreams with a paint job that draws a crowd.

A wave maker to be sure.

Luxurious BMW wagon reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the BMW M5 Touring hybrid wagon can be seen in the latest, June 2026, edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news and marketplace."

The "Hot Laps" reviews, along with my "Oil Drips" observations on anything with wheels, appear monthly in the publication.

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Rosenqvist's brave move is one for the history books

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

The Indianapolis 500 was run for the 110th time on May 24. Mark Glover was attending his 61st 500, and here's his take on a memorable race:

My pre-race blog post mentioned the myriad variables that can crown or crush a competitor in the Indianapolis 500. Well, there were a ton of variables in Sunday's race. A couple of them pushed pre-race favorite Alex Palou to the sidelines. Others set the table for a Swedish champion who drove a winning lap for the ages.

Palou seemed to be biding his time for three-quarters of the race, playing tag with various competitors at the front.  Alas, with less than 100 miles to go, he found himself needing an extra pit stop (caution periods helped skew his strategy), while other competitors were locked in for the finish.

Enter Sweden's Felix Rosenqvist, American David Malukas and New Zealand's Marcus Armstrong.  Everything was shaping up for a dramatic finish, with these three in the starring roles.  But this being Indy, circumstances ramped up the drama to the boiling point.

When the last of the caution flags flew, the three major players learned that the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 would be decided on a final, one-lap shootout. The massive throng of spectators gasped, and rightly so.  When the green flag signaled lap 200, Malukas found himself in front, with Armstrong and Rosenqvist locked in a battle for second.

But it was more than that. As the trio rocketed into Turn One, Malukas was at the point, but incredibly, Armstrong and Rosenqvist were locked in a prolonged side-by-side battle, with Rosenqvist hugging the outside lane, a soft pickleball lob from the wall. As I watched the cars blaze onto the backstretch, I thought: Malukas has it in the bag.

Two cars fighting over second place instead of making a single-line draft charge to catch Malukas sealed it for the American in my mind. And I also feared for Rosenqvist. Driving flat-out on the often-slippery outside lane was flirting with disaster. I thought: I hope Felix doesn't hurt himself in a violent crash.

But then, coming around the fourth and final turn, Rosenqvist was somehow still there, and coming down the stretch to the checkered flag, he again darts to the outside and draws even with Malukas.  I was blown away.  Malukas wisely blocked the inside line, the preferred passing line coming to the finish.  No way Rosenqvist is going to make this stick, I thought.

Until he did. The Swede bolts to victory by perhaps the length of an elementary school ruler ... or 0.0233 of a second if you are keeping score.

How brave was that last, foot-to-the-floor run in the outside lane on the last lap?  At the victory banquet on Monday, fellow drivers couldn't stop talking about it.  These are drivers who routinely drive in gridlocked traffic at 220 miles per hour.  They have seen it all, and yet, Rosenqvist's incredibly risky, skillful move left them open-mouthed.

From my perspective, Rosenqvist's final charge was the most astonishing, consequential single lap driven in the storied history of the 500-mile race.

It earned him a check of more than $4 million, plus other prizes.  But for me, it ranked as a memory that I will carry with me for the rest of my days.

It's Palou versus the rest of the field in Sunday's 500

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

The Indianapolis 500 will be run for the 110th time on May 24, and Mark Glover will be attending his 61st 500. Here's his take on the race to come:

Just so we're on the same page: Picking a winner of the Indianapolis 500 before it happens is pure folly.

You can have the fastest car by far, and the best team to boot, and still fall short of winning the world-famous race.  It has happened before. I've seen it. Numerous times.

There are about a thousand variables that can ruin a favorite's day ... cut tires, botched pit stops, a collision with a careless driver, a rain delay, any one of a hundred mechanical failures, an ill-timed caution period ...

I could go on all night.

Knowing all that, I believe that 29-year-old Alex Palou of Spain will win the 500 for the second year in a row. The four-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion is, in my mind, as solid a favorite as there has ever been. But what about all those nasty variables?

The variables exist, but Palou has so much repel them.

He has been dominating the series in his youth, looking like an unbeatable veteran amid all the talent the NTT INDYCAR SERIES has to offer. In last year's 500, Palou seemed to be toying with the field, drafting along when he needed it, running away when it was go time.

And then there's the Chip Ganassi Racing team for which he drives. Ganassi has excelled at Indy at the highest level for someone not named Roger Penske, and he has brought Palou along with admirable excellence.  This team knows its business.

Sunday's qualifying session was a prime example.  In the first round of qualifying, Palou barely made the "Fast 12," with the 11th-fastest time.  Mere hours later, Palou was sitting on the pole with a sparkling four-lap average speed of 232.248 miles per hour. That's a remarkable leap in such a short time, a tribute to the team's talent top to bottom.

If not Palou, who else might be drinking the winner's milk on Sunday?

(Writer's note: When this piece was being written on May 18, I noted that Nevada City's own Alexander Rossi and Mexico's Pato O'Ward were my secondary picks to win the race. A couple hours later, both were involved in a violent crash in Turn 2 during pre-race practice. And while both intend to race on Sunday, I believe their chances of winning have been reduced. Consequently, for my money, it's Palou versus the rest of the field. And so, as I was saying ... )

And then there's the rest of the field, loaded with skilled pilots and past 500 winners.  Could one of them win it?  See above, i.e. "variables."

This electric SUV is just what you'd expect from Lexus

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Great expectations.

That's what you have when a Lexus sport-utility vehicle is handed over to you.  And fortunately, the tested 2026 Lexus RZ 550e AWD checks all the appropriate boxes ... a player in the world of electric power transportation. And with Lexus' F Sport enhancements, all the better.

Priced at $62,034, my tester was a high-performing, velvet-glove cruiser powered by dual electric motors with a horsepower rating of 402. On the highway at cruising speed, the ride was silky smooth.

But when asked to dart around a careless poke, the RZ 550e responded instantly, and with fist-to-the-chin acceleration.  The advertised zero-to-60 mph time is 4.1 seconds.

A pleasure and a comfort, all in one.

The payoff for the buyer is a miles-per-gallon equivalent of 102 in the city and 88 on the highway. And as a bonus, the RZ 550e is compatible with thousands of charging ports nationwide.

I was struck by the all-season travel potential (and enjoyment) of the midsize crossover SUV.

With good cargo capacity, I could envision many happy hours cruising to national parks and places of interest during summer months.  Plenty of amenities on board to keep adults and kids happy.

The tester also was equipped for winter travel, with features that included a windshield wiper de-icer and headlamp washers.

This being a Lexus, luxury expectations are met with an extensive list of features. 

I liked the panoramic glass roof and perfectly stitched leather trim. Security is enhanced by a full suite of max five-star federal government crash test ratings, including five on the overall score.

All in all, the RZ 550e was an excellent balance of performance, solid tech and luxury ... just what I expected.

Seriously, American muscle never felt quite like this

This review first appeared in the April 2026 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Sacramento, California -- I remember thinking: Wow, what a beautiful Dodge Charger.

Classic American muscle car lines, with a spoiler in the back and a wing cut into the front. Serious wheels (20 inchers).

The paint job is dazzling ... a super-vivid shade of blue. The paint color has a name: Bludicrous. Love it.

I jump into the cockpit, snap on the seat belt, hit the start button and am greeted with ...

S-i-l-e-n-c-e.

I have to admit, I felt a serious stab of pain in my heart ... remembering the rumble of Hemi-equipped Chargers of years past.

Some American muscle car devotees consider an electric Charger the embodiment of blasphemy.

As for me, I get it.  I see where history is heading, and it was only a matter of time before V-8s gave way to kilowatts.

And besides, the tested 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Track Package had plenty to like.

The look was certainly at the top of the list. The tester appeared race-ready, like it could fly. Traffic tended to bolt out of the way when they saw me coming in my four-door blue beauty.

The rumble might be gone, but power is not lacking.

The tester weighed in at a heart-pounding 670 horses. The advertised zero-to-60 time is 3.3 seconds.

No lie there.  The tester pressed me into the driver's seat with the best of them. It blazed by stragglers in silent majesty.

Fun? You bet.

The interior cabin is one of the most convenient, thoughtfully laid out of any muscle machine I can remember.  Everything is within easy reach, and there's plenty of high-tech stuff to keep one safe and alert.

By the way, the rear of the Charger can be configured into a substantial cargo-carrying area ... not something most folks think about in this segment.

The big bonus, of course, is fuel cost savings.  The fuel mileage equivalent rating is 77 miles per gallon in the city and 68 mpg on the highway.

The price of the loaded tester was a hefty $70,375.

Naturally, some folks are irreversibly convinced that a Charger is not a Charger unless it has a window-rattling internal-combustion engine under the hood.

But I have to confess that my week in the vehicle convinced me that this Charger with the electric heart is a muscle car by definition -- big, bad and fast on the draw, just like the old days.

Do I miss the rumble? Sure.

But did I enjoy the ride? Yes indeed.

Flashy Toyota Sequoia reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2026 Toyota Sequoia 4WD TRD Pro Hybrid sport-utility vehicle ("Wave Maker") can be seen in the latest, May 2026, edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news and marketplace."

The "Hot Laps" reviews, along with my "Oil Drips" observations on anything with wheels, appear monthly in the publication.

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.