Just as Clark Kent can turn into Superman by ditching his glasses and changing his outfit, so it is wth the 2024 Volvo S60 Recharge. At first glance, like the mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, the S60 Recharge looks unassuming. It’s an attractive small sedan, but its exterior doesn’t hint at the fire that burns inside. Its surprisingly potent plug-in hybrid powertrain, offering 455 horsepower no less, turns it into one of the fastest and most powerful Volvos ever. That’s what host Jack Nerad discovered when he road-tested the car this week. With its ample all-electric range, nifty road manners, and attractive cabin, the S60 Recharge is worth a second look.

In our other road test this week, Co-Host Chris Teague evaluates the 2024 Nissan Ariya battery-electric SUV. There was a time when it looked as if the Ariya would lead the electrric SUV parade, but delays in its introduction sidetracked that plan. Is it more than just another battery-powered small SUV? What sets it apart from the other contenders in that increasingly crowded space? We’ll tell you in this episode.

This week, our special guest is Tyson Jominy, vice president of Data and analytics at J.D. Power. Jominy keeps a very close eye on vehicle pricing and affordability, and he’ll have some exclusive information for us. If you’re thinking of buying a vehicle in the near future, you need to hear what he has to say.

This week, the all-new, all-electric Acura ZDX and ZDX Type S have just rolled into dealerships across the country, and the Type S version just happens to be the most powerful Acura vehicle ever. (Take that NSX!) Also interesting is the fact that you can buy one without ever visiting an Acura dealership. We’ll tell you all about the SUV and how Acura plans to sell it.

A new study from IDTechEx predicts that robotaxis will be big business in 10 years, but there are issues with the autonomous-driving technology. Will self-driving taxis change the way we live our lives? We’ll give you our thoughts. And Toyota has just created a new hydrogen headquarters, indicating its continuing commitment to that alternative fuel. What does that mean for the EV efforts going forward?

Honda has just announced that it will plant 85,000 trees near its factory in Ohio. The idea isn’t new but maybe it’s time to take a second look at measures like this to combat carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rather than concentrating only on EVs. We’ll tell you more a little later in the show.

So there’s plenty of food for thought this week. Thanks for joining us.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com