Features

It's unfair to say that Volvo took the easy route in developing the 2021 XC40 Recharge, the all-electric version of its popular subcompact SUV. Sure, it may be built atop the same Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform of its gasoline brethren - and, indeed, the same architecture resting underneath its Polestar 2 cousin - but the XC40 Recharge's biggest triumph is how it seamlessly blends with urban traffic without eliciting curious "is that electric?" stares from passersby and other drivers.

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For all the talk that the sedan is dead, there sure are plenty of them. The sales chart rise of the SUV may be steep enough to give even experienced mountaineers vertigo, but three-box four-doors like the Mercedes-Benz A220 4MATIC prove there's more to the market than its broadest trends.

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The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is America’s first taste of a new-age VW electric vehicle. Riding atop the German carmaker’s EV-specific MEB platform, the ID.4 is all-new from the ground up, and it certainly feels like it both inside and out. After my brief stint driving the ID.4. I can see why it makes a lot of sense for the US market from a starting price perspective, especially with the longer range battery option.

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Money can't buy taste but it can buy exclusivity. If you're both wealthy and lucky, then as in the case of the 2020 BMW Alpina B7 those two stars can sometimes combine. The German tuning house may not have the brand recognition of, say, AMG or BMW's own M Sport division, but in the rarity stakes that only makes the new B7 more appealing.

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Of all the reasons to be excited by Apple Silicon, its potential to put high-end performance in more affordable computers like the Mac mini M1 could be the biggest. Apple's diminutive desktop is the cheapest way to get your hands on a new Mac and, while there may be some compromises to accommodate, it's arguably the most impressive way to experience the new M1 chipset so far.

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As we head into the holidays and close out 2020, there are a lot of digital storefronts that are hosting sales on video games. Whether you're playing on Xbox, PlayStation 4, or PC, there are plenty of sales to participate in, though each sale seems to have different lengths and end times. Some of those sales - particularly the Steam winter sale - haven't even started yet for that matter, but thanks to leaks we already have a good idea of which days to mark our calendars.

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You could make a solid argument that the 2021 Nissan Armada is the poster-child for successful mid-cycle refreshes. The three-row SUV has a reputation for setting aside anything remotely sporting in favor of snooze-inducing comfort - in the best possible way - but blobby styling and a dated cabin were clear giveaways of its age.

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The Snapdragon 888 is Qualcomm's flagship chipset for Android smartphones in 2021, and the stakes have arguably never been higher. On the one hand, Apple is flexing its chip-design chops, and while Qualcomm modems may be in its current hardware, that's not going to be the case forever. Meanwhile, Qualcomm's Android SoC rivals aren't standing still.

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The 2021 Cadillac Escalade diesel is no less vast than its gas sibling, no less lavish, and actually no more expensive, and that presents buyers of big, luxury SUVs with a conundrum. An Escalade with the Duramax turbo-diesel under the hood costs the same, from $77,490 plus destination, and aside from the 600D badge on the rear there's no visible sign that you opted not to get the V8.

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The Audi Q5 may be a compact crossover, but in sales terms it's a juggernaut. Gaining in popularity every year since it first launched in 2009, it's not only Audi's best-seller but the centerpiece of the automaker's balance of technology, prestige, performance, and value. For the 2021 Q5 45 TFSI, then, there's a lot riding on its teutonic shoulders.

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Unbeknownst to many, the new Hennessey Venom F5 is not only meant to break speed records. Interestingly, the Venom F5 is the brand’s gift for its 30th anniversary next year. Most recently, Hennessey Performance unveiled the production Venom F5 for all the world to see. And as expected, the Texas-based tuner and supercar builder is leaving no stones unturned for its latest creation.

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Brand your new electric crossover a Mustang, and you set it up for some big expectations. Ford wasn't making life easy for the 2021 Mustang Mach-E, risking the reputation of its muscle car brand on a category it had yet to prove itself in. "Should it drive like it looks?" That's the question I couldn't help but ask, as I faced the Mach-E across an empty pop-up autocross track.

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