Woodcliff Lake, N.J. — More than 3,000 drivers rallied together on October 21 as part of the latest iteration of MINI Together, a one-day event by MINI USA that encourages owners across the United States to motor for a cause.  MINI owners gathered at their local dealerships to kick off an early morning, app-based road trip followed by an evening virtual event connecting this year’s theme of showing “Big Love” for the planet with interactive activities including seed planting and more.

Also during the evening festivities, the starting location for the 2024 MINI TAKES THE STATES owner rally was revealed to be Albuquerque, New Mexico. A big change from the East Coast-centric 2022 MINI TAKES THE STATES route, this kickoff from the southwestern United States gives owners a sneak peek at the potential route that can be expected next summer.

In the SUV business, where competition is increasingly cutthroat, a brand has to have as many tools in its arsenal as possible.

For Hyundai, its Santa Fe midsize SUV has been around for over two decades, and currently offers just about every variant you can imagine — from ICE versions, to standard hybrid, to plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

Of note is that the Santa Fe is wrapping up its current design before its radically different, brand new 2024 version goes on sale early next year. As is the case when any redesign occurs, the opportunity may arise to catch a price break on 2023 Santa Fe models that dealers may want off the lot.

I recently tested a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV — which competes mainly with plug-in hybrid options from Ford, Toyota, Kia and others —  and I’m back with a full report.

LOGANSPORT, INDIANA — ARaymond, a global firm that designs and manufactures assembly and fastening systems for automotive and other industries, recently announced that it has invested $12 million in its manufacturing facility in Logansport.

The company said the $12 million will include installation of new pre finish and coating lines and that it will streamline and improve the company’s overall operations.

The new equipment will arrive at ARaymond’s Logansport facility — located at 800 W County Road 250 S — in December 2023, and will be fully operational by August 2024.

Mazda has slowly been revamping the design language of its SUV lineup for the past several years, and those changes have now reached the top of the ladder and its largest offering.

Their previous three-row SUV was the CX-9, but now it’s been replaced for the 2024 model year by a brand new entry called the CX-90 — a three-row SUV that seats 6 to 8 passengers depending on configuration, and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

Competing with category heavyweights such as the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Toyota Grand Highlander, it’s got a tough array of opponents.

But for drivers who love to drive and want a ride that’s both family-friendly plus sporty and fun to drive, Mazda has long been a leader in this segment, and the CX-90 holds up tremendously well even in this tough atmosphere.

Mazda also has the benefit of offering some of the more luxurious vehicles you’ll find from a non-luxury brand.

I tested the 2024 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus model, and I’m back with a full report on how this new offering measures up in the SUV landscape.