NEW CARS

Argo Sasquatch XTX Is a $250K Amphibious Pickup Built for the End of the Road

For more than 60 years, Argo has been doing the kind of work most automakers only pretend to understand: building machines meant to go through the terrain, not just over it. Now the Ontario-based company has rolled out a new flagship that takes that mission to its logical extreme. It’s called the Sasquatch XTX, and it’s less off-road vehicle than it is a blunt-force instrument for geography.

At first glance, the Sasquatch XTX looks familiar. Its upright, industrial proportions immediately recall the Russian-built Sherp, the cult-favorite amphibious crawler that seems equally at home in swamps, tundra, and YouTube thumbnails. But Argo didn’t simply copy the formula. Instead of the Sherp’s compact, almost cartoonish footprint, the Sasquatch stretches the idea into something resembling a pickup truck for the apocalypse.

Pricing hasn’t been officially published by Argo, but don’t expect bargain-basement numbers. Third-party listings suggest a starting point around $190,000, before delivery and dealer fees that can add another $3,500. Start ticking options, and it’s easy to crest $250,000. This isn’t a toy for weekend trail rides; it’s equipment.

The Sasquatch is built around a high-strength crew cab with multiple access points, including a front-mounted door complete with a fold-out ladder, plus more conventional side doors. It’s a clever solution for a vehicle that’s just as likely to be perched on uneven terrain as it is parked on flat ground.

Inside, expectations should be calibrated accordingly. The cabin is spartan but functional, with two front seats and a pair of fold-down seats in the rear. Creature comforts are present, if minimal: air conditioning, heating, Bluetooth audio, and a roof hatch. The real headline feature remains outside—those enormous 71-inch tires, which allow the Sasquatch XTX to float and propel itself through water without breaking a sweat.

Where the Argo really differentiates itself is in usability. The pickup-style rear cargo area provides meaningful storage space, a big advantage over the Sherp’s tightly packaged layout. Then there’s the Argo Terrain Control system, which sounds like marketing fluff until you realize what it actually does. With the push of a button—Water, Mud, Snow, or Trail—the vehicle automatically adjusts tire pressure to suit the surface beneath it. The Sasquatch can even pivot in place, executing a 180-degree turn without moving forward or backward, a party trick that’s as practical in tight spaces as it is intimidating to watch.

Power comes from a Hyundai-sourced 1.8-liter turbo-diesel engine, paired with an automatic transmission. Argo hasn’t released output figures, but performance here is measured in inevitability rather than speed. On land, the Sasquatch tops out at about 25 mph; in the water, it’ll churn along at roughly 4 mph. The point isn’t getting there fast—it’s getting there at all.

That capability makes the Sasquatch XTX more than a high-dollar indulgence for extreme off-roaders. It’s already been put to work as a rescue vehicle, with one example delivered to GlobalMedic, an Ontario-based disaster relief organization. As founder Rahul Singh noted, there are situations where snowmobiles simply won’t cut it—especially when injured or vulnerable people need to be extracted safely.

Argo says interest in the Sasquatch XTX is coming in from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, suggesting this Canadian-built behemoth has global ambitions. And while its price tag and performance figures may seem absurd by conventional automotive standards, the Sasquatch exists in a different category altogether. This isn’t about lap times or luxury—it’s about going where roads, reason, and common sense have all given up.

Source: Argo

News

The Cybertruck Fire That Ended in a Five-Year Sentence

The Tesla Cybertruck has spent most of its public life absorbing attention—some of it earned, some of it self-inflicted, and much of it amplified by the outsized persona of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. But last spring in Mesa, Arizona, the stainless-steel spectacle became collateral damage in something far less abstract: an act of arson that left a dealership scorched, a Cybertruck destroyed, and a man headed to federal prison.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, the attack occurred just before 2:00 a.m. on April 28, 2025, when 35-year-old Ian Moses allegedly rolled up to a Tesla dealership under cover of darkness. Security footage shows Moses placing fire-starting logs near the building, dousing them—and the dealership itself—with gasoline, and soaking three Tesla vehicles before lighting the fuse. One of them was a Cybertruck.

The fire destroyed the truck outright and damaged the exterior of the dealership, underscoring a reality automakers and dealers have increasingly had to confront: vehicles are no longer just transportation or consumer goods, but cultural symbols. And symbols, once politicized, can become targets.

Mesa police arrested Moses roughly an hour later, about a quarter mile from the scene. He was reportedly still wearing the same clothes seen in the surveillance footage and was carrying a hand-drawn map of the area with a conspicuous “T” marking the dealership’s location. While he had attempted to conceal his identity with a black mask during the attack, the evidence left little room for doubt.

Moses pleaded guilty to all charges on October 27, 2025. Earlier this week, he was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. He will also be required to pay restitution, with the amount to be determined at a hearing scheduled for April 13.

In strictly legal terms, the sentence is notable not for its severity but for its restraint. Moses had been facing five counts of maliciously damaging property and vehicles in interstate commerce by means of fire—each carrying a potential sentence of five to 20 years in prison, plus fines of up to $250,000 per count. The five-year sentence ultimately imposed lands at the very bottom of that range.

That outcome appears to sit uneasily alongside earlier rhetoric from the Department of Justice. Attorney General Pamela Bondi had previously stated that those engaging in politically motivated violence would be prosecuted “to the fullest extent of the law” with “no negotiating.” Yet, in this case, negotiation clearly occurred, resulting in a comparatively light sentence given the statutory maximums.

U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine struck a more measured tone, emphasizing principle over punishment. “Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics,” he said, adding that the sentence “reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.”

For Tesla—and for the auto industry more broadly—the incident is a reminder that dealerships are frontline infrastructure. They are open, public-facing, and increasingly exposed as automakers and their executives become lightning rods in broader cultural debates. The Cybertruck, with its polarizing design and symbolic weight, has become an especially visible proxy in those arguments.

Still, the takeaway here isn’t about stainless steel body panels, EV adoption curves, or even Tesla’s polarizing leadership. It’s about consequences. A dealership can be repaired. A truck can be replaced. Five years of freedom cannot.

As the industry continues to navigate an era where cars double as cultural statements, the Mesa arson stands as a stark example of what happens when political anger spills out of the comment section and into the real world. And this time, it ended not with a viral clip—but with a federal sentence.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office; Photos: Department of Justice

NEW CARS

Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC Is the GTD’s Rowdier, More Attainable Sibling

Ford’s modern Mustang strategy has been refreshingly clear: stop thinking of the pony car as a one-size-fits-all muscle coupe and start treating it like a performance ecosystem. The new Mustang Dark Horse SC—short for “Street Cred,” because of course it is—slots neatly into that plan, acting as a bridge between the already serious Dark Horse and the near-mythical, track-first Mustang GTD.

Developed in-house by Ford Racing, the Dark Horse SC takes the familiar Mk7 Dark Horse and injects it with DNA lifted straight from Ford’s top-tier programs, including the GTD road car and the GT3 race machine. The goal isn’t subtlety. The goal is to bring GTD-adjacent performance to buyers who aren’t quite ready—or financially prepared—for the full carbon-bodied experience.

Ford brand manager Ryan Shaughnessy calls the SC an “entry point into the world of ultra-high-performance models,” and that framing makes sense. Ford wants the Mustang mentioned in the same breath as the Porsche 911, not just as a value alternative but as a credible performance rival across a wide price and capability spectrum.

The biggest upgrade sits right under the hood. While the standard Dark Horse makes do with a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 producing just over 500 horsepower in U.S. spec, the Dark Horse SC steps up to the supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 used in the GTD. In the GTD, that engine produces 826 horsepower, and while Ford hasn’t confirmed final output for the SC, chief engineer Arie Groeneveld strongly suggests it’ll land much closer to GTD territory than Dark Horse numbers. Translation: this thing won’t be shy.

Power is routed through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, differing from the GTD’s eight-speed manual setup. Variable traction control, adapted from the GTD, offers five levels of adjustability, broadening the car’s usability for drivers who want performance without being thrown straight into the deep end.

Chassis changes are extensive and purposeful. According to Groeneveld, the development focus was squarely on aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics, with an emphasis on predictable handling. New MagneRide dampers, controlled by Ford-developed software, can adjust each corner independently up to 1,000 times per second. Stiffer springs, revised anti-roll bars, modified front links, a lightweight magnesium strut, and forged suspension components all contribute to sharper responses and reduced weight. A revised steering rack and standard Brembo brakes—six-piston fronts and four-piston rears—round out the mechanical upgrades, with Pirelli tires fitted as standard.

Visually, the Dark Horse SC splits the difference between the standard Dark Horse and the aggressive GTD, but it doesn’t exactly whisper. Lead designer Aaron Walker describes the brief as “rough, attitude, and sinister,” and the result lives up to that promise. Larger front air intakes increase open area by 60 percent for improved cooling, while a carbon-fiber hood intake generates 7.5 times more downforce than the regular Dark Horse. Out back, a substantial rear wing works alongside a pronounced ducktail spoiler to generate a claimed 281 kilograms of downforce at speeds up to 306 km/h.

Inside, the SC borrows heavily from the GTD, incorporating similar gauges, materials, and steering wheel design. Buyers will also have access to new exterior colors and detailing options, including turquoise accents for seatbelts and decals—a nod to the legendary 1970 Mustang 429 homologation special.

For those who plan to spend more time chasing apexes than coffee shops, Ford will offer an optional Track Package. It adds bespoke MagneRide tuning, carbon wheels, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires measuring a serious 305 section up front and 315 at the rear.

Pricing remains unannounced, but Ford has made it clear the SC will sit above the Dark Horse’s roughly $63,000 starting point. That said, the value proposition is hard to ignore. With 40 percent of Dark Horse buyers reportedly new to the brand, Ford is betting the Dark Horse SC will lure even more converts—drivers who might otherwise be browsing German showrooms but still want their performance served with a V-8 soundtrack and a galloping horse on the grille.

Source: Ford

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