#MAMA24SR: Being There Again – Part 2
A full night’s sleep did some good to quell the anxiety. So did breakfast. Along with driving plenty of vehicles during the morning.
As members of the automotive media, we are given tremendous opportunities to explore this industry from various angles. To experience the products that you will eventually purchase – or lease. To understand why these vehicles were developed, engineered, designed, and produced before anyone gets their time behind the wheel.
That kept me from imploding in front of 170 people at the Midwest Automotive Media Association’s 2024 Spring Rally. Thanks to my “day job” and its ability to create emotional duress at times. Just as it did the first full day of #MAMA24SR.
For the sake of my own emotional health, I will not get into what got me to the brink of a complete implosion and meltdown. Only to say that it was not because of my obligations as a member of MAMA and my participation in #MAMA24SR.
A full night’s sleep did some good to quell the anxiety over my “day job.” So did breakfast. Along with driving plenty of vehicles during the morning.
My goal is to try to experience vehicles from manufacturers we do work with on a regular basis. For example, I drove the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV. The Ultium platform created a lineup of Chevrolet EVs designed to advance the brand’s design while lowering the world’s carbon footprint.
I see where General Motors is going with all of this. The Blazer EV drove well. The exterior was a bit compelling, yet I am on the fence about Chevrolet’s current design philosophy. That was evident in the interior. While it looked great, offered decent comfort, and a lot of great visuals – it felt complicated. As long as the key is nearby, the car starts itself upon sitting down. That takes some getting used to – as was the column-mounted shifter.
You can also add Nissan to this group of companies we rarely work with. I took out both the 2024 Rogue Platinum and the 2024 Frontier Hardbody Edition for two different drives. The Rogue went into the nearby countryside to some pleasant feedback. It just felt nice. The 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder certainly pulled its own weight quite nicely. The revisions Nissan made to the best-selling vehicle augmented this driveline very well.
The Nissan Frontier Hardbody is definitely a “throwback” machine. I had a 1987 Nissan Hardbody pickup truck back in the day, so I was curious what they had in mind for this version of the truck. To do so, I found a dirt path inside Road America and found it to be a solid vehicle. It also reminded me that I should spend more time in a Frontier sometime down the line.
A day after I drove the 2025 Camry, I took a spin in the updated 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The updates themselves looked and felt spot on – including the new interior design derived from recent models. It felt familiar, and yet I found no advantage the Sonata had over the Camry. These are two very nice sedans and pleasant drivers.
I was not the only one driving our share of what was available to us at the MAMA Spring Rally. George also got some wheel time with some of the 80-plus vehicles on hand at Road America.
There were times when George and I would end up driving the same vehicle. For example, he also got a chance to drive the 2024 Polaris Slingshot. He observed that “as options for open air driving seem to diminish, the Slingshot provides a unique take on it with this three-wheeled contraption. The (Polaris ProStar four-cylinder engine) is more than enough oomph to push you along to keep things entertaining. Though available with an automatic, the 5-speed manual transmission adds to the connectedness with this exotic machine. “
He's not wrong. The general consensus favored the manual over the automatic on the Slingshot.
George also took out the 2024 BMW i5, as well. His take on it was that the electric 5-Series was “a satisfying electric driving machine with plenty of comfort and good vehicle performance. Though it left me wanting to sample the M60 to see if you get more of the goodness the eDrive40 delivers.”
Having driven both the M60 and eDrive 40, I will concur that the i5 is a satisfying electric sedan that has a kernel of BMW’s driving signature.
Then came the 2024 INEOS Grenadier. We both had our turn in it out on the roadways near Road America. George came up with this description of his experience in this new off-roader: “You say you want a capable premium off-roader that looks like mix of a classic Land Rover Defender on the outside and a Boeing 727 airliner-inspired cockpit with flat control panels with toggle switches and roof windows on the inside? Check. Just improve the Grenadier’s on-road handling to the level of its off-road prowess to complete the package.”
I will definitely agree with the last sentence. The steering was more apt for off-road use rather than on-road stability. That’s my biggest qualm about the Grenadier.
While I had the 2024 Kia EV9 in for review earlier this year, George finally got a chance to try it out. He said that the new battery-electric SUV was “a functional 6-person people hauler that happens to be an EV with chiseled looks from the Kia design studio. If you have driven one of the many of the Kia/Hyundai vehicles using the E-GMP platform, the EV9 will feel familiar to drive. And that is a good thing.”
On the track, George revisited the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. He last drive the fast pony back in October at the MAMA Fall Favorites event near Chicago. This time around, he gave it a good lap around Road America’s road course. According to George, “the Dark Horse has all the bits you might want for fun on the track. Strong Brembo brakes, Recaro seats to hold you in, and the wick turned up to 500 horsepower connected to 6-speed manual transmission. Cornering and powering out of the turns at Road America are what this machine does well though you can feel some of the vehicle’s heft in the process.”
On top of the aforementioned i5, George took his turn on a couple of other BMW models. One was the majestic and blocky 2024 BMW 750e plug-in hybrid. I decided to let George drive while I luxuriate in the back seat Granted, it did not the wide screen the folded up into the roof, but the seat itself was made for royalty. “Executive-level luxury transport gains hybrid electrification,” George observed. “We found it to be quiet and comfortable. However, the instrument cluster and controls could use a re-think to make them more intuitive.”
Then, George took on the 2024 BMW M3 Competition – the baddest M3 ever created. George said that “the M3 Competition still delivers on its mission of stronger enthusiast driving performance. Plenty of power when requested, tight steering to easily change direction and a suspension that complies with whatever you want the vehicle to do.”
We were curious about the battery-electric new generation of the Cinquecento – the 2024 Fiat 500e. George explained that the 500e rides on “a new platform making it 2.4” longer, 2.2” wider, and the wheelbase almost an inch longer. Every inch matter, as you feel a sense of interior cabin roominess in the front seat area. The all-electric power train had more than adequate power to get you from point A to B around town. Even though the 500e is now slightly larger, its strength is still its overall smaller size to fit into congested urban environments especially in European countries.”
Last, but not least, there was a Rolls-Royce on hand. This time around, I was not the one piloting it for us. George was one to experience the majestic and quiet new 2024 Spectre coupe. He explained that the Spectre was “the definition of luxury gets taken to a new level when you combine the comfort and ultra-smooth ride of a Rolls-Royce with the silent power train of an EV. It has commanding esthetic, especially painted in black like our tester. The ride was creamy smooth and quiet. The Spectre brings a new dimension to wafting as electrification trickles down to their other future offerings.”
It is a tremendous privilege to participate in media events, such as the Midwest Automotive Media Association’s 2024 Spring Rally. One that we personally take seriously.
A privilege that could be taken away rather quickly, even after a long hard climb to get to the point of at least earning respect for the work that you do. That’s all we ask – a little respect for the efforts we put forth through our channels.
For what we achieved, it is about staying power. For George, that’s three years worth. For me, it’s now 11 years. The opportunity the MAMA Spring Rally affords us is tremendous. That is why we go as much as we can – this year included.
As they say at the end of these events: “That’s a rally!”
DISCLAIMER: All travel was by Victory & Reseda. All logistics were provided by the Midwest Automotive Media Association, the Chicago Automotive Trade Association and their sponsors
All photos by Randy Stern and George Torline