Ice-racing Bentley Continental GTs aside, not every vehicle can conquer the Arctic’s icy chill. Usually, you’d think a specialty vehicle like the Sherp ATV or Rokon Trail-Breaker, or a truck equipped with tank treads would be required. However, as Car and Driver showed by off-roading in the Arctic Circle with a Lamborghini Urus, many modern …

Updating a beloved vehicle is tough. The teams behind icons like the Porsche 911 and Jeep Wrangler know that very well. Too much change and you risk alienating the fans. Too little, and the car loses sales. Land Rover faced this same challenge when it redesigned the Defender for the modern era. The technical specs …

Choosing an off-road motorcycle is about balancing pavement manners with dirt performance. The Triumph Scrambler and modified Indian Scout Sixty can venture off-pavement, but they’re heavier and more expensive. Dual sports can freely transition between gravel and asphalt, but their designs skew more towards dirt bikes than street ones. And the Ural’s 2WD and old-school …

Before cars became affordable, motorcycles with sidecars were the most affordable way to transport goods and/or families. Some models, like BMWs, were even used on the battlefront. Now, though, while it’s possible to get modern bikes with classic looks, sidecars have all but died out. However, there’s still one company, Ural, keeping the off-roading sidecar …

The Safari 911 trend is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, it’s seemingly inspired other unconventional off-road builds, like the NORRA Vespa scooters, the adventuring Indian Scout Sixty, and Gambler Mazda Miata. And now RUF, the German company famous for tuning Porsches, is making its own Safari 911. RUF’s past Porsches Technically speaking, …

Going off-road doesn’t mean you always need a specialized machine, especially when it comes to motorcycles. In addition to dirt and dual sport bikes, people have taken Indian cruisers and Vespa scooters off the beaten path. This type of off-road modification was started decades ago with the first scrambler motorcycles. And today, as with other …

Sometimes, the greatest fun in racing is running with unconventional machines. Instead of race-prepped SUVs and trucks, taking a Porsche 911, or a Mazda Miata. At this year’s Mexico 1000, one team is applying that logic to two wheels. But rather than using a rally-ready Honda dirt bike, or high-power dual-sport, Tutto Mondo Racing is …

A lot of people think racing off-road requires getting a specialty SUV or modified pickup truck. But as the various Safari 911s demonstrate, plenty of other cars can also have fun in the dirt. Even so, most would take something like a Fiat Panda hatchback over a Mazda Miata when it comes to off-road racing. …

It’s quite easy to option a Jeep Wrangler to rather expensive levels, even before you start adding extra wheels. In addition to the wide range of off-road standard features, Jeep regularly releases special trims and editions of the off-road SUV. There’s the Willys, Three O Five, and Recon, just to name a few. And this …

Buying an off-road vehicle is often a balancing act. Newer vehicles tend to be safer, with more technology to simplify the experience. However, there’s a reason many overlanders tend to go old-school: less technology means fewer things to go wrong. Older off-roaders, such as the Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma, also offer similar performance as their …

You need only look at the burst in Pontiac Aztek interest to see how overlanding has taken off. A desire to go off-road, or at least look like you can, explains SUVs’ strong sales, especially ones like the Toyota 4Runner. But just like in day-to-day scenarios, an SUV isn’t always the best choice. Volkswagen wouldn’t …

It’s not only celebrities that are going electric. Classic trucks and SUVs are now being converted to electric drive, keeping classic utility without problematic powertrains. Swapping the engine out for an electric motor also makes affordable importable off-road SUVs easier to live with—fewer obscure parts to break. But SUVs aren’t the only off-roaders. Both Lancia …

Racing doesn’t just improve vehicles; it also helps automakers start fanbases. Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, and Audi made names for themselves on the rally circuit. And often the technology being flung about on gravel tracks or through desert sands ended up on sale in the showroom. The Audi Ur-Quattro, in particular, helped usher in the modern …

The Jeep Gladiator has been winning critics over on both sides of the Atlantic. Car and Driver put the truck on its 10Best list for taking the Wrangler’s fun parts and adding utility and daily refinement. Although the Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison edged it out, the Gladiator has proven better than other off-roaders, like Toyota’s …

There are several rugged, dependable 4×4 trucks that we never got in the US. Or, in the case of something like the Toyota Hilux, we got a slightly ‘plushier’ version. Luckily, many of these off-road icons are now old enough to import. While their older designs do mean living with fewer modern features, their simplicity …

When it comes to off-road parts, Fox shocks are one of the go-to’s. They’re standard on SUVs like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. Trucks like the Ford F-150 Raptor, Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, and Jeep Gladiator Rubicon also get them. So does the Ford Ranger Raptor. And soon, US Ranger and …

The Suzuki Jimny has been winning a lot of fans around the world. Although the only way we can get the small, light off-road SUV is by importing older models, the Jimny has garnered enough attention for Jeep to consider making a rival SUV. The Jimny’s already a baby Bronco rival, after all. But would …

Lamborghini, surprisingly, has made quite a few rugged off-road vehicles. Although considering Ferruccio Lamborghini made tractors before getting into cars, maybe that shouldn’t be so surprising. The Italian automaker designed a truck for the US military, a project which eventually spawned the LM002 pickup. So, Lamborghini’s SUV should be in good company when it comes …

If you want to conquer the wilderness, there’s a lot of vehicles at your disposal. Safari 911s serve up speed on pavement and sand. Those seeking a more retro approach can invest in a 90s Mitsubishi SUV, or wait on the Suzuki Jimny or Lada Niva. The Jeep Gladiator has Wrangler capability with extra utility, …

Although the Ford Ranger may not offer a V6 or a manual, the mid-size truck does have other things to offer. Especially for off-roading. Overlanders can breathe easier with an ARB winch-ready bumper, for instance. And, while we can’t get the official Ranger Raptor in the US (yet), Texas tuner PaxPower can get you the …