![]() ![]() They redesigned and thickened the soft top to reduce wind noise. The designers ditched the granite-hard interior for one with softer materials and gentler curves. In the past 18 months, the Wrangler has nearly been upended. After all, no matter how capable it may be on the Rubicon Trail, a scant few customers are willing to endure a choppy on-road ride or an interior racket that sounds like a snare drum in an oilcan. The constant struggle for Jeep is civilizing the Wrangler without killing its off-road prowess. Hit it in the warm months to experience the full vibrancy of the Green Mountains. ROUTE 100 is a picturesque north-south byway that runs for more than 200 miles, from Massachusetts nearly to Canada. Combine the Tail with routes 143, 165 and 360 for 120 miles of driving nirvana. Known as the Tail of the Dragon, ROUTE 129 packs 318 curves in an 11-mile stretch. With no major junctions along its 120-mile length, its smooth blacktop, and enough elevation rise to incite altitude sickness, HIGHWAY 149 is a diamond among Colorado's deep reserves of stellar driving roads. Find out why it's known as the most beautiful drive in America. HIGHWAY 212-the Beartooth Highway-all the way into Yellowstone. After 37 miles, head east on Lockwood Valley Road for another mind-blowing 25 miles until reaching I-5. Go north from Ojai, and slice through the desolate Los Padres as ROUTE 33 doubles back on itself several times. The 1M is not a car that simply gets you from place to place instead it seduces you into taking the long route to your destination just so you can exercise its talents a little longer. After a day or so behind the wheel, it's all too easy to believe the fantasy that you're fit for the Monaco Grand Prix. It nudges you to explore that outer edge of speed and control, and then brings you safely back. The 1M is simultaneously ferocious and controllable, a machine that doesn't neuter the driver with safe but boring handling. And it's those traits that separate simply fast cars from the truly rewarding ones. The other subjective measures, such as perfectly linear brake action, steering that feels hard-wired to your brain, delicate road signals communicated through the seat, and the creamy six-speed manual transmission, all combine for a dynamic delight. There's a surplus of performance-a turbocharged 335-hp straight-six engine, mammoth tires and brakes, and stiffer suspension-but speed is not the main thrill. But we still clutch the keys like a toddler with a lollipop. The flared fenders and gaping mouth tacked onto the base 1 Series make it even chunkier, not sleek and lithe like a typical sports car. It's the least expensive of BMW's mighty high-po M cars and also the least pretty. Sometimes personality trumps style-just ask us about the BMW 1M. This is one vehicle that really can do it all. Plus the Durango is wrapped in a clean and attractive body. If you skip that V8, which is a wise move considering how well the 290-hp V6 performs, the Durango returns decent fuel economy. On the highway, drivers can luxuriate in the rich materials, throne-like seats and an abundance of available features, including a 360-hp V8 and adaptive cruise control. It drives with a sharpness that belies its 2½ tons and its commodious interior. There's no on-road penalty for its capabilities. During a recent seven-SUV torture test on a Michigan sand dune, we used the Durango to tow out the other SUVs that got beached.īut the Durango is not simply a talented off-roader. It seats seven in a cleanly designed interior, can tow up to 7400 pounds and has the mechanical hardware-a robust center differential rather than a light-duty clutch pack-to traverse terrain that would humble most sport utes. The Durango is a vehicle that provides nearly limitless opportunities. It's not every day that you pack in all the kids, hitch up a camper trailer and trundle down a gnarly trail to a secluded spot, but it's nice to know you've got the option. ![]() The promise of the modern SUV is having a vehicle that can take you-and your gear and family-anywhere. ![]()
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