Another Incredible Rocky Mountain Auto Event Featuring the 2024 Ram 1500, the 2024 Subaru Solterra and the 2024 Fiat 500e

The vehicles were as varied as the mountain views as automotive journalists from the Rocky Mountain region had the opportunity to drive some of the latest EVs, trucks and SUVs. From the tiny 2024 Fiat 500e to the adorable 2024 Mazda MX-5 to the super capable 2024 Toyota Tacoma and powerful 2024 Ram 1500 Big Horn, there was a huge variety to experience.

Rocky Mountain Driving Experience

This year’s RMDE gave members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press routes to take from Denver to the mountain town of Frisco, CO and back. The journalists could traverse more than 200 miles of mountain roads to test the EV ranges, the acceleration and comfort during several hours of driving.

Vehicles Featured in This Year’s RMDE

• 2024 Fiat 500e
• 2024 Ram 1500 Big Horn
• 2025 Toyota Camry
• 2025 Toyota Crown Signia
• 2024 Toyota Tacoma
• 2024 Lexus TX 550h
• 2024 Nissan Z Nismo
• 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
• 2024 Mazda CX-50
• 2024 Mazda MX-5
• 2024 Land Rover Defender
• 2025 Genesis GV-80
• 2024 Mercedes EQE SUV
• 2024 Kia EV9 EV
• 2024 Subaru Solterra EV
• 2025 Subaru Forester SUV
• 2024 Acura ZDX
• 2024 Honda Prologue EV

Initial Impressions

It is wonderful to see the auto companies making great strides with ease of charging and longer ranges. For example, the 2024 Subaru Solterra has a high-capacity lithium-ion battery that charges from 10% to 80% in as quickly as 35 minutes. Range anxiety is still very real, especially when traveling in the mountains. Detours and heavy traffic can impact different EV ranges. The huge swings in temperatures from Denver, which is in the 90s this week, to overnights in the mountains, down to the 40s, also have an impact. All of the EVs appeared to perform well.

It is easy to see why the 2024 Toyota Tacoma is a top seller in the mountains. It is extremely capable.

It is also easy to see why the 2024 Ram 1500 Big Horn/Lone Star is the biggest volume seller of all the Ram vehicles. Comfortable and well outfitted, it handles every situation well. This Lone Star edition featured the new powerful 3.0-liter Hurricane Standard Output Straight-Six Turbo (SST). I’ll have much more on this particular truck in a follow-up story.

Events like this make one happy to be an automotive journalist. Being able to see and experience the latest that the industry has to offer is a true gift.

Mary Conway Photos

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.