West Africa is one of the great cross-continent challenges for overlanders, combining at least 15 countries, more than 30 border crossings, and an endless sea of bureaucracy. Just the sticker visas and eVisas alone have been enough to cause travelers to tuck tail and drive back north to Europe. Almost two months ago, my phone…
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Category Archives: News
Ram Confirms Return of Midsized Pickup with the Nameplate You Expect
After more than a decade away from the midsize pickup segment, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis has officially confirmed its return with the revival of a familiar name: the Ram Dakota. Slated to debut in 2027 and reach dealerships shortly afterward as a 2028 model, the Dakota will mark Ram’s first entry into the highly competitive…
Custom 1989 Toyota Corolla GT-S “AWDROLA” Set to Compete in 2026 Mint 400 Gambler/Hooptie-X Class
A project that began as a digital concept shared on Instagram has developed into a sanctioned desert race entry. Randy Wimenta and co-driver Will Wimenta are preparing to compete in the 2026 Mint 400 in the Gambler/Hooptie-X Modified class, campaigning a custom-built 1989 Toyota Corolla GT-S known as AWDROLA that we featured on Expedition Portal…
Chinese Wrangler Competitor Confirmed for Australia
Chinese vehicles of all shapes and sizes are taking automotive markets all around the world by storm. Everywhere, that is, except the USA where hefty tariffs are so far keeping those vehicles out. The BAW 212 T01 (often just called the 212) is the latest vehicle on the radar of overlanders and has just been confirmed…
Canada’s EV Moves Shake Up the Market
In a surprising pivot on February 5th, Canada’s Federal government announced that it is scrapping its national electric-vehicle sales mandate—a policy once positioned as a cornerstone of the country’s clean transportation transition. What had been a firm regulatory roadmap toward an all-EV auto market now gives way to a more flexible emissions-based system paired with…
Toyota Confirms Compact Pickup for US Market
It hardly needs to be said that Toyota North America has an excellent reputation in the midsize and full-size pickup arenas thanks to the well proven Tacoma and Tundra respectively. For more than 25 years these trucks have proven time and again to be extremely reliable and dependable for hundreds of thousands of miles on…
Supertramp Campers Announces New Paragon Camper
When Supertramp Campers first appeared on the overland scene in 2017, the Colorado builder quickly earned a reputation for doing things differently. Instead of relying on traditional aluminum framing and wood construction, Supertramp committed early to fully composite camper bodies—lighter, stronger, and far more resistant to the moisture problems that have plagued RVs for decades….
Bentley Debuts Bentayga X Concept, Testing a More Off-Road-Focused Future for Its Luxury SUV
Just over a week ago, we wrote about the Genesis X Skorpio, a vehicle with real power, genuine on- and off-road ability, and a striking presence that feels a little like a unicorn. Now, Bentley Motors has unveiled a new concept version of its Bentayga SUV, called the Bentayga X Concept, offering a glimpse into…
Will the Rivian R2 Be the Key to Reaching a Larger Market and Boosting Deliveries?
Electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian this week moved its newest SUV prototype from design labs to public roads, inviting a select group of journalists and creators to Southern California for a pre-production drive event of its next model, the R2. The event, held in the canyons surrounding the company’s headquarters in Irvine, California, marked a notable…
Trinitē Road Rally Announces Inaugural 2026 Event in Northern California, Concluding at Sonoma Raceway
The Trinitē Road Rally has announced plans for its inaugural event, scheduled to take place from May 4 through May 7, 2026, in the Golden Gate and Northern California regions, culminating at Sonoma Raceway. The rally’s organizers are associated with the team behind Rebelle Rally, and describe the event as a motorsport experience designed to…
BYD Shark PHEV Outsells Toyota HiLux in Australia
In a year that will be talked about for decades, 2025 marked the moment plug-in electrified vehicles truly made themselves at home in the competitive Australian ute market. In a segment long dominated by diesel-burning workhorses—where names like HiLux and Ranger have been etched into the cultural DNA of farmers, tradies, and adventure seekers alike—something…
MareBlu Costa Rica :: Overland Conservation
As overlanders, protecting and preserving the open spaces we visit is our obligation. Our rigs carry us to pristine mountains, deserts, and beaches, and we aspire to leave them in better condition than we found them. By nearly all measures, Costa Rica, home to over five million residents, is a tropical paradise. Over the past…
The Genesis X Skorpio Could Be the Answer to Our Dreams, If It Ever Becomes a Reality
Lumbering through the dunes outside Lima, Peru, after a month spent winding over the Andes, I found myself wondering what vehicle would be better suited to this terrain than my Defender 130—especially for a solo traveler. A motorcycle sits at the top of the list: light, fast, and packed minimally, with enough power in reserve…
Flex Automotive Brings Japan’s Classic Land Cruisers to the US—and Invites Buyers to Travel to Japan to Take Delivery
Buying a classic four-wheel-drive vehicle is almost always an exciting experience, yet the nostalgia tied to its past is often limited to small clues left behind in a glove compartment or tucked beneath the seats, particularly when the vehicle is purchased in largely original condition. The history is there, but it is usually fragmented, abstract,…
Canada Drops Chinese EV Tariffs
When it comes to foreign vehicle imports and tariffs, Canada has largely followed the US, especially when it comes to Chinese Electric Vehicles (EVs). The 100% import tariff imposed by Canada and the US effectively doubles the price of those vehicles. Not surprisingly, none of the Chinese automakers have established a presence because of that,…
Overland News of the Week, January 30th, 2026
Midland Releases the MAV60 Magnetic Mount Holder A handheld radio mount should be low-profile, strong, and easily accessible. Compatible with Midland FRS and GMRS walkie-talkies and the MicroMobile MXT115, MXT275, and MXT575, Midland’s latest offering features the world’s strongest magnet thanks to stainless steel N50 neodymium construction. The MAV60 mount base is affixed with 3M…
AEV Launches the New Ford Superduty FXL Package
As the overland aftermarket has grown, a clear distinction has emerged between consumer-facing accessory companies and tier 1 component manufacturers supplying original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). What may seem like two different kinds of oranges is actually a gap as wide as the Grand Canyon. Tier one suppliers are held to the highest standards of crash…
2025 Off-Road Expo with Expedition Portal and Hankook Dynapro Tire
The southern California coast in October is just about perfect. Temperatures are pleasant throughout the day, and the crowds of vacationers are relatively light. The Expedition Portal team visited Costa Mesa to attend the 2025 Off-Road Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds and explore the area from the beach up into the mountains. The event…
The New 2027 Ram Power Wagon Diesel for Full-Size Overlanding
Christmas came early for me, opening up the embargoed press packet from Ram and reading an unexpected and thrilling piece of news. The Power Wagon, the most capable full-size truck produced, will now be available with a diesel drivetrain. Seriously! A Cummins-powered 3/4-ton truck with front and rear lockers, a swaybar disconnect, 1,075 pound-feet of…
Overland News of the Week, December 19th, 2025
Toyota Launches New Generation Australian HiLux The latest generation HilLux has landed in Australia, promising improved driveability, enhanced interior technology and comfort, and an exterior design spearheaded by Toyota Design Australia. The 2026 Hilux is available in cab-chassis and pickup configurations, with 4×4 or 4×2 drivelines, and in single-, extra-, and double-cab body styles. Upgrades…