Sign up for our weekly email to stay on top of the latest news and insights!
MIDDLEBORO, Mass. – This year’s New England Motor Press Association #RagtopRamble added a day of sampling a variety of vehicles from the region’s media fleet as well as the annual trip to Kennebunkport, Maine, for a lobster clambake lunch with representatives from the world’s auto makers.
I targeted electric power and fun-to-drive vehicles spending some time in the luxurious Lexus LC 500 convertible, the MINI Cooper S convertible, the 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona sedan and the pint-size Volvo EX30.
Volvo EX30
The smallest sport-utility vehicle (SUV) to ever come from the Swedish brand might not boast an imposing physical presence but its dual-motor electrical foundation results in a powerful diminutive machine.
The 166.7-inch-long SUV does boast 422 horsepower for the rapid, silent performance modern electric vehicles (EVs) have become known for in this market. Volvo claims a 0-60 time of 3.4 seconds (though Car and Driver testing achieved 3.3), which the company says means the EX30 is the fastest accelerating Volvo – ever. And this performance is top notch for any vehicle!
Also fast is the ability to recharge the 69kWh battery from 10 to 80 percent in 26.5 minutes at a DC Level 3 fast charger. When fully charged, a range of approximately 240 miles can be achieved.
The interior is Swedish minimalist, dominated by a 12.3-inch vertical (tablet-oriented) center screen which contains all vehicle information (including speedometer) as well as controls for the overall vehicle, infotainment and climate control.
The route around Middleboro was limited, but the way the EX30 acquitted itself on the lone twisty road I found, I want a more extended period behind the wheel to see what it can do in a more challenging environment.
Dodge Charger Daytona sedan
Dodge brought its newest model to the NEMPA program; what it labels as the “world’s only four-door muscle car,” the 2026 Dodge Daytona sedan, an EV monster. The new car, built on the STLA multi-energy platform, shares a common roofline, liftgate, and front and rear fascia with the two-door Dodge Charger Daytona coupe (introduced last year). The look is big, broad (this is a widebody sedan) and powerful, right down to the tires, which are the largest ever featured on a Charger: 20-inch wheels and staggered Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3 305/35ZR20XL front/325/35ZR20 rear as part of the review unit’s Track Package.
The standard dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, in the case of the car I drove, produces 670 horsepower and 620 pounds-feet of torque. Needless to say, it is a fast machine, capable of 3.3-second 0-60 times (according to Dodge); amazing performance for a 5,828-pound machine.
This electrifying performance comes with approximately 241 miles of range and the ability to fast-charge from 20 to 80 percent in 24 minutes. This figure is accurate as I had to fill ‘er up prior to heading home from Maine to Massachusetts, easily done at a DC fast charger (Level 3) at a Maine Turnpike service area.
The 2026 Dodge Daytona sedan is big, roomy, powerful and either quiet or loud, depending upon how the driver wants to motor thanks to a customizable exhaust-sound system. I went with stealth mode to attract less attention than already being garnered by the meaty shape and Bluedicrous color.
As mentioned, I drove the Charger home from Maine and will have a more detailed report in next week’s TBR Drive.
MINI Cooper S Convertible
The first day of the #RagtopRamble event was one of the hottest of the year in Southern Massachusetts but I still jumped at the chance for a short spin in a couple of cars which could drop their tops.
The new MINI Cooper S Convertible, like all MINI models since the brand’s introduction in 1959, brings a smile to the face of anyone who has driven one. It has grown a bit over its evolution spanning seven decades and several owners of the brand, but remains a small (15.6-inches long), fun-to-drive car, whether in two or four-door configuration.
The MINI Cooper S Convertible increases the fun factor geometrically simply because the roof can collapse behind the rear seats.
The double-overhead cam, 16-valve, turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-liter engine producing 201 horsepower and 221-pounds-feet of torque can propel the front-wheel-drive four-seater from 0-60 in about 6 seconds (Car and Driver estimated). And it achieves this performance while returning some 30 miles per gallon in daily driving(according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s ratings of 30 overall, 26 urban, 36 highway).
The straight-line performance might not be in the same category with the EVs I sampled, but being surrounded by fresh air in a unique, quirky (speedometer part of the round center screen, transmission selector a toggle switch on the dash, below the screen) automobile with a great heritage created a wonderful, though short-lived, experience.
Lexus LC 500 Convertible
The top dropped with a single, smooth one-button operation, disappearing completely in to a bin behind the rear seats, turning the intimate Lexus LC 500 Convertible into a luxurious open-air chariot.
The 5.0-liter V8 produces 471 horsepower; can sprint to 60 miles per hour (according to Car and Driver testing) in 4.6 seconds and swallow long stretches of highway as well as any luxury coupe on the market while also providing open-air fun manuevering around twisting, hilly terrain. I had limited time behind the wheel, but found it to be a smooth, rewarding experience.
The Lexus LC 500 Convertible is designed to compete with the world’s luxury brands and does so with class, sophistication and presence.
Subscribe Today!
Sign up for our weekly eNewsletter and get a free copy of our quarterly digital magazine.
