2021 WAPA Rally: Rolling Deep Down at the Beach

Grand Wagoneer

The biggest beast at the gathering, the Grand Wagoneer is Stellantis\’ most luxurious three-row off-roader ever. Aimed at the Cadillac Escalade and the Toyota Land Cruiser-based Lexus LX 600, the behemoth cruises along the highway with a 6.4-liter V8 with 471 hrsprs and 455 lb-ft of torque hitting the corners through an eight-speed automatic.

One of the coolest features shown to me by Stellantis rep Lisa Barrow (yes, the same Lisa Barrow from MotorWeek way back when) involves the climate control panel below the infotainment system. Turns out there\’s storage behind the screen, which is accessible via a push of a button.

All I can say is this would be a great SUV to bring to Louisville for the holidays. My dad\’s family is pretty big, and it would be cool to take a few members along for a ride for a big gathering.

Maserati Ghibli Trofeo

On the other hand, the Maserati Ghibli Trofeo would be the perfect machine for cruising around the NSRA Street Rod Nationals, or a trek over to VIR for an IMSA event. Under the hood: a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 with 580 Italian stallions ready to rocket you to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat, charging all the way up to a top speed of 203 mph.

Like the Polestar 2, the Ghibli Trofeo\’s infotainment system is built upon Android. Unlike the EV, the Ferrari-derived twin-turbo V8 lets the whole world know you mean business, especially at the stop light. The leather seats are a joy to sit in, and the whole thing is just badass.

Acura TLX Type S

Across from the Maserati was this red beauty, the Acura TLX Type S. Featuring rear-biased all-wheel drive and a 3-liter turbocharged V6 with 355 hrsprs, this sedan lives up to the Type S badge. It, too, was a joy to drive around the loop I travelled upon during the rally.