autoevolution
 

Matt DeLorenzo

74  ARTICLES

Senior Contributor
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I’ve been covering automobiles since the dawn of time, or at least that how it seems after 45 years writing about them. After a brief stint as a newspaper reporter, I got my first auto gig in 1977 as executive editor of Automotive Fleet magazine. Four years later, I joined Automotive News, serving as a reporter in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. before becoming International Editor in Detroit.

In 1989, I became editor of Autoweek and later transitioned to Detroit editor for Road & Track. I returned to California as Deputy Editor and then Editor-in-Chief. In 2013, I joined Kelley Blue Book as a senior editor before returning to the life as a freelancer in January 2022.

Over the years, I’ve written several books including Legendary American Cars, Corvette Dynasty, Modern Chrysler Concept Cars, and Dodge 100 Years as well as launch books for the New VW Beetle, Chrysler PT Cruiser, 2005 Ford Mustang, and Hummer H2.

My personal garage is rather modest, populated by a Hyundai Ioniq PHEV and Nissan LEAF. Even though I’ve seen many changes over the years, the industry now is more dynamic than ever, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Driven: 2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT – Off-Road Style on a Budget
Driven: 2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT – Off-Road Style on a Budget

28 Sep 2022, 15:00 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / Owning an SUV is as much about attitude as it is capability, which is the essence of the 2022 Hyundai Tucson XRT. Manufacturers have recognized the off-road allure of crossover SUVs and seek to capitalize on that go-anywhere, do anything spirit. As...

 
Legacy Automakers Should Think Twice Before Abandoning ICE Technology
Legacy Automakers Should Think Twice Before Abandoning ICE Technology

21 Sep 2022, 07:33 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / Remember the last factory-built American convertible? I do. It was a white 1976 Cadillac Eldorado, which rolled off the assembly line in April 21 of that year. Because of various safety regulations, conventional wisdom held that automakers would no...

 
2024 Ford Mustang: New From the Inside Out
2024 Ford Mustang: New From the Inside Out

15 Sep 2022, 00:16 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / The seventh-generation 2024 Ford Mustang is the hands-down star of the 2022 Detroit Auto Show and emphasizes that internal combustion is not dead at Ford, nor will it be for the foreseeable future. At a time when crosstown rival Stellantis is wi...

 
30th Anniversary Edition 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe Plugs Into Jeep Heritage
30th Anniversary Edition 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe Plugs Into Jeep Heritage

14 Sep 2022, 12:32 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / As the newest addition to the Jeep Grand Cherokee line-up, the plug-in hybrid 4xe model will also showcase this midsize SUV’s history by offering a 30th Anniversary package. Announced at the Detroit Auto Show, this commemorative trim level in...

 
2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Gets the Willys Treatment, Priced From $53,995
2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Gets the Willys Treatment, Priced From $53,995

14 Sep 2022, 12:30 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / In its continuing efforts to showcase its electrification drive, Jeep introduced a new Willys-inspired package on the Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid. The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe blends leading-edge PHEV technology with a retro touch inspire...

 
2023 Chrysler 300C Marks the End of an Era
2023 Chrysler 300C Marks the End of an Era

14 Sep 2022, 08:07 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / In bringing back the legendary 300C nameplate, Chrysler will be closing the books on its V8-powered luxury sedans with a final 2,000-unit run of the 2023 Chrysler 300C. The model boasts a 485-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 lb-ft of torque. T...

 
Driven: 2023 Lexus RX - Remaking an Icon
Driven: 2023 Lexus RX - Remaking an Icon

9 Sep 2022, 10:02 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / As one of the first luxury crossover SUVs, the Lexus RX looks to retain its hold as a segment leader with a complete redesign for the 2023 model year. Toyota’s luxury division is doubling down on the elements that have made the RX a success w...

 
Jeep Reveals Aggressive EV Plan Featuring Four New Models
Jeep Reveals Aggressive EV Plan Featuring Four New Models

8 Sep 2022, 12:57 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / Promising to offer an electrified version of all its products in the lineup by 2025, Jeep announced that it would have four all-new electric SUVs as part of that plan. In addition to a wide range of hybrids and plug-in hybrids in all its models, fo...

 
Driven: 2022 Toyota Camry XSE Hybrid – The Unsung Hero
Driven: 2022 Toyota Camry XSE Hybrid – The Unsung Hero

4 Sep 2022, 09:17 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / In a market hot for SUVs and electric vehicles, the 2022 Toyota Camry XSE Hybrid soldiers on in relative obscurity. But smart shoppers should quickly grasp this midsize sedan’s comfort, utility, performance and fuel economy are a cut above av...

 
Driven: 2022 Lexus LC 500 Bespoke Edition – Putting the Grand in Grand Touring
Driven: 2022 Lexus LC 500 Bespoke Edition – Putting the Grand in Grand Touring

28 Aug 2022, 11:19 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / The 2022 Lexus LC 500 is a rare bird, a V8-powered 2+2 sport coupe, the very antithesis of today’s conventional luxury ride in a world gone mad with SUVs. In the Grand Tourer space it goes up against some heady competition with names like Ast...

 
Unintended Consequences of California's ICE Ban
Unintended Consequences of California's ICE Ban

28 Aug 2022, 09:19 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / California’s bold move to effectively ban the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 will have consequences, both intended and unintended. While the intended consequences, less reliance on fossil fuels and cleaner air are laudabl...

 
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept: The Shape of Things to Come
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept: The Shape of Things to Come

18 Aug 2022, 07:16 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / Dodge has taken the wraps off what it believes will be the electric muscle car of the future. The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept incorporates a new 800-volt Banshee propulsion system that boasts such innovations as a multi-speed transmission for...

 
2023 Dodge Hornet: Shifting Gears From Muscle Cars to Muscle SUVs
2023 Dodge Hornet: Shifting Gears From Muscle Cars to Muscle SUVs

17 Aug 2022, 07:27 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / Dodge is moving into the compact SUV space with the 2023 Dodge Hornet in GT and R/T trims with the emphasis of on-road performance over off-road prowess. Offered as a plug-in hybrid (RT) and non-hybrid turbocharged 4-cylinder trim (GT), Hornet is b...

 
Driven: 2023 Hyundai Palisade – Fresher and Fancier Value
Driven: 2023 Hyundai Palisade – Fresher and Fancier Value

16 Aug 2022, 08:48 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / Relatively new to the market, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade benefits from a minor facelift, a new trim level and new features. The fact that Hyundai has seen fit to already freshen its already successful SUV underscores the stiff competition the Korean...

 
First World Problem Solved: EV Owner Gets a Garage Mini Mart
First World Problem Solved: EV Owner Gets a Garage Mini Mart

13 Aug 2022, 10:24 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / One of the great things about owning an electric car is not having to go to gas stations. One of the downsides of owning an electric car is not being able to regularly avail yourself to gas station treats. Chevrolet solved this first world problem ...

 
Driven: 2022 Acura Integra A-Spec - We Hope It’s Only the Beginning
Driven: 2022 Acura Integra A-Spec - We Hope It’s Only the Beginning

6 Aug 2022, 09:39 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / The return of the Integra nameplate is a good first step for Acura in moving away from the alphabet-soup branding that gave us the forgettable ILX. However, both the performance and luxury quotient need to be upped considerably to further different...

 
Stellantis Tools Up Plants for New ICE Engine Production
Stellantis Tools Up Plants for New ICE Engine Production

2 Aug 2022, 06:26 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / At a time when many automakers are boasting about their commitments to transition to fully electric fleets, Stellantis is doubling down on internal combustion engine technology. The company announced that it’s committing $99 million to a new ...

 
Driven: 2023 Kia Sportage HEV Is a Quantum Leap Forward
Driven: 2023 Kia Sportage HEV Is a Quantum Leap Forward

29 Jul 2022, 08:56 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / Compact SUVs are so ubiquitous these days that many, sad to say, are forgettable. Such was the fate of the Kia Sportage, which in earlier iterations often failed to leave much of an impression. Not so with the completely redesigned 2023 Kia Sport H...

 
If We Want More EV Acceptance, Manufacturers Have to Think Small
If We Want More EV Acceptance, Manufacturers Have to Think Small

25 Jul 2022, 09:37 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / If manufacturers are truly serious about widening the appeal of electric vehicles, the market could use more Nissan LEAF and Hyundai Kona electrics. Remember, our current dependence on the automobile was built on the back of everyman’s Ford M...

 
Driven: 2022 Ford Expedition Stealth Edition – Flying Under the Radar
Driven: 2022 Ford Expedition Stealth Edition – Flying Under the Radar

25 Jul 2022, 09:23 UTC · By: Matt DeLorenzo / While much attention has been paid to recent redesign of GM’s full-size SUVs, Ford has quietly been upgrading its entry in the segment making the Expedition even more refined and powerful. The 2022 Ford Expedition Stealth Edition underscores ...

 

Stories by Matt DeLorenzo