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.
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Stories By Michael Teo Van Runkle
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Ducati's single-cylinder supermotard was the bike nobody expected: Relatively affordable by Ducati standards, but can it truly live up to the hype?
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Hyundai's performance EV has the power to satisfy a sports car, but does this grin-provoking hot hatch live up to life in the real world?
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With a $30k+ price tag and 208 horsepower on tap, the Brutale 1000 RS is just plain brutal. But has MV Agusta done enough to justify this exotic liter bike?
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Chevrolet's heavy duty truck has the power to make it a towing superstar, but do the compromises outweigh the capacity in this huge (and expensive) pickup?
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With a wild price tag and limited production, Ferrari's latest model is a V12 assault on the Urus, Bentayga and Cullinan. Just don't call the Purosangue an SUV.
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Undercutting Harley-Davidson and Indian, Honda's affordable Rebel 500 aims to give cruiser newbies a starter bike they can love. But is it wasted on beginners?
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Polestar's new sports SUV ditches the rear window in favor of cameras and sleek design, but has this unexpectedly affordable EV made the wrong calculation?
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Kawasaki got motorcycle fans old and new excited with the sub-$10k Ninja ZX-4RR. We hit the track to see if it can beat the legendary Honda CBR600RR.
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McLaren's outrageous hybrid supercar loses its roof, but does the Artura Spider sacrifice what made the coupe so appealing - and so surprising - on day one?
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Aston Martin's SUV keeps the seductive looks and focuses updates where they pack a punch, but there's more than a slick new interior and matching tech, here.
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Polestar's first SUV takes on Porsche's Macan EV and Tesla's Model Y, but is focusing on speed the wrong angle to take?
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The Equinox EV may not be GM's first Ultium-based electric model, but could this relatively affordable Chevrolet SUV be the best option on the platform so far?
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Chevrolet's electric pickup promises wild power & range, but the Silverado EV makes some huge demands for its 450 miles of driving. We run the painful numbers.
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Honda's Transalp makes its big return to the U.S., but can this high-profile ADV bike live up to the high expectations built in its absence?
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An oddball five-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive gives Audi's RS3 some pep, but its willingness to go sideways is what'll make you fall in love.
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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Aston Martin chops the top off the stunning DB12, but has this Super Tourer lost its charm as well as its roof?
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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?