Michael Teo Van Runkle
Expertise
Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles
- Michael has jumped a Ford Bronco and a Lamborghini Huracan, both on purpose.
- He has eaten a Michelin-starred meal in the Bugatti workshop and tracked a Hyundai Elantra.
- One day, he wants to enter a proper stage rally race.
Experience
The car bug bit Michael as a kid, staring at makes and models in LA traffic. Mastering stick shift in a 1948 Chevy pickup with no first gear began a labor of love on a six-speed Mk1 Audi TT that eventually led to a career in automotive journalism. Everything fits the bill, from commuter sedans to EVs, 4x4s, and supercars. He currently splits daily driver duties among a Mitsubishi Montero, Pajero Evolution, and Porsche Cayenne Turbo while that old 914 project sputters along.
Education
Michael made up his own major at UC Berkeley.
SlashGear's content hails from a group of experienced technology and automotive editors and a wide-ranging team of writers, engineers, enthusiasts, and experts across consumer tech and transportation. Our goal is to provide up-to-the-minute breaking news coverage as well as original and engaging opinion and editorial content that serves as the ultimate resource for those who want to stay up to date on the latest and greatest the industry has to offer.
Our editors, advisors, and fact-checkers conduct regular reviews to ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of our articles. Complete information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By Michael Teo Van Runkle
-
Chevrolet's new Traverse gets a fresh engine, some Tahoe-inspired style, and high-tech features like Super Cruise. Do the RS or Z71 earn your money?
-
Acura's first all-electric SUV may bear its badge, but under the skin there's plenty of GM tech. Does the ZDX Type S sacrifice personality in the process?
-
Tesla-rival Lucid is fighting to survive in the tough EV segment, and is counting on new models to court mainstream drivers. Here's what we know about them.
-
Maserati's GranCabrio Folgore is already a rarity - an all-electric convertible capable of 180 mph - but soon it won't be as rare as ICE Maserati models.
-
For smiles per dollar spent, it's tough to argue with Hyundai's Elantra N, and the 2024 updates to this enthusiast favorite only make it seem more appealing.
-
Indian's rebooted 2025 Scout range comes in hot, with bikes to tempt cruiser newcomers and long-time fans alike. Can they convert a skeptic rider?
-
Look past the gimmicky paddles and weird noises, and the Ioniq 5 N has one big goal: Convince enthusiasts that electric is just as fun as their gas cars.
-
Aston Martin chops the top off the stunning DB12, but has this Super Tourer lost its charm as well as its roof?
-
At nearly $30k, the MV Agusta Dragster RR America wraps patriotic style around a high-tech clutch and rev-happy engine. But is it too complex for its own good?
-
Mercedes makes a play to bring younger, more tech-savvy drivers into its 11th generation E-Class, but do the gadgets distract from the hybrid sedan's luxury?
-
Lamborghini's entry into LMDh racing was a surprise, but the SC63 hypercar is more than just a flight of fast fancy. We talked to the team to find out more.
-
Maserati's first all-electric SUV looks the part, but does the 2025 Grecale Folgore do enough to fend off high-tech rivals like the Porsche Macan EV?
-
Heading off-grid needn't mean roughing it. If overlanding is your next adventure, a hardshell rooftop tent can be the perfect way to turn your car into a camp.
-
McLaren's fearsome supercar only gets better, and while the style changes may be minimal, underestimate the 750S' capabilities at your peril - even in the wet.
-
Morgan's three-wheelers return to the U.S. but just who is the expensive Super 3 intended for? We hit the twisties - and the highway - to find out.
-
As the first mass-market three-row electric SUV, the Kia EV9 gets to define the category. But is its range high enough - and its price low enough - to succeed?
-
Indian's FTR was a surprise, and this 1-of-400 limited edition version of the category-defying naked bike only leaves us more confused. Confused, and covetous.
-
Ducati's most affordable water-cooled bike has serious heritage, but can the latest Monster Plus capture the iconic essence of the original?
-
It's a recipe that shouldn't work: Take a Lamborghini supercar, raise the suspension, and make a go-anywhere beast. Yet the Sterrato defies expectations.
-
Chevrolet and GMC's truck line-ups can be intimidating, with plenty of trim and feature choices. These are some of the stand-out options.
-
Ducati's Scrambler grows up, with more torque, style, and tech, but has this new bike sacrificed attainability along the way?
-
Honda's return to Scrambler-style motorcycles is certainly affordable, but does it deliver the playfulness enthusiasts are looking for?
-
Mullen wants to be a Tesla-killer. Instead, the would-be EV maker is fighting short-sellers and skepticism it can ever build a car. Does the FIVE defy the odds?
-
Lucid Motors' second model is a three-row all-electric SUV, but the 2025 Gravity isn't quite the EV we expected.
-
Modern SUVs are packed with electronics to help them go off-road successfully, but does the tech truly deliver? We took a plush Defender 130 out to see.
-
GMC's 2024 Canyon, LD, and HD line-up mixes things up, with new standard engines plus AT4X offered across the range. Are these true off-roaders?
-
Chevrolet's hybrid Corvette is also the fastest from the factory, but there's more than speed for eagle-eyed C8 fans. These are some of the Easter eggs.