Celebrate your independence with our favorite American cars (pictures)
In honor of the most American of holidays, we're taking a look back at some of the best American cars to grace the Car Tech garage.
Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
The all current batch of CTS-V models are powered by 553 horsepower, supercharged V8 engines, but the 2013 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon has a lot more room for your junk in its trunk. It's fast and gorgeous, luxurious and spacious. About the only thing this party wagon doesn't do well is compromise.
How did the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee go from being a vehicle known for a questionable electrical system to being awarded CNET's Editors' Choice award for its exceptional electronics in just a few decades? We're not sure either, but we love it.
Ford's Fusion Hybrid is firing on all cylinders -- except for the times it's not firing on any of them when its electric motor is handling motivational duties. Strong Ford Sync-based dashboard tech, available automatic parallel parking, and a handsome design make the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid (and its conventionally powered twin) the American midsize sedan to beat.
California-based Tesla has set the gold standard for the electric car with the 2012 Tesla Model S, boasting remarkably good range. It's not just a marvel of vehicle electrification, it's also a remarkably good-looking and well-equipped luxury sedan that goes toe-to-toe with the best gasoline and hybrid luxury models on the market.
Honorable mention goes to the Chevrolet Volt, the electric car that even hybrid haters seem to love.
5 of 7 Josh Miller/CNET
2013 Ford Focus ST
If you thought we were wacky for wagons, you should see how happy a hot hatch makes the Car Tech staff. Ford's 2013 Focus ST fits the hot hatch bill perfectly with good power from a turbocharged engine and agile handling that lets its caboose hang loose when you want it to -- an admirable feat for a little front-driver.
Perhaps this one's cheating a bit: the 2013 Dodge Dart has more in common with Alfa Romeos and Fiats than it does Challegers and Chargers, but as long as it's wearing that Dodge badge, I'm counting it. While its turbocharged, 1.4L engine can be a bit gutless, good efficiency and dashboard tech make the Dart a sweet little suburban runabout.
If you're looking for dashboard tech, you've come to the wrong place. The 2012 Camaro ZL1 doesn't have much to offer. What it does have is aggressive styling that looks like it rolled right out of a epic Vin Diesel movie, gobs of power, and -- based on the ease with which it performs burnouts and powerslides -- an abusive relationship with its rear tires.
