F rom National Lampoon’s Vacation to Little Miss Sunshine and To Wong Foo , road trip films have long enchanted American moviegoers. And it’s no mystery why. The road trip symbolizes freedom and adventure - the ability to go where you want, when you want, always finding something new and exciting along the way. So, with warm weather finally on the horizon, we’ve lined up five summer road trips and the perfect luxury cars to take them in. Because you deserve a getaway that’s nothing short of cinematic. GETAWAY to GALENA in a BMW X7 Nestled in northwest Illinois, near the Mississippi River, Galena is the perfect place to spend a long weekend. Eighty-five percent of the town is a national historic district, giving you the feeling that you’ve stepped back in time. If you manage to tear yourself away from the red- brick quaintness of it all, you’ll find some very un-Illinois- like rolling hill country that’s just as charming to drive. For that ride, we recommend the BMW X7. Three rows of seats and a seven-person capacity mean even larger families can cruise comfortably. And with a merino leather interior and Integral Active Steering, comfort is something this luxury SUV does impeccably. But it’s still a BMW, and that’s great news for whoever’s in the driver’s seat. Hanley Dawson IV, President of the Patrick Dealer Group in Schaumburg, says there’s a reason they call it the Ultimate Driving Machine. “It’s the best driving- engineered car that I personally see. It’s so fun to drive, it may even take your mind off the kids for a bit.”
ST. PAUL on a SINGLE CHARGE in a MERCEDES EQS
We’ve all heard the electric vehicle skepticism: the car will run out of charge, it’ll drive like a golf cart, etc. While that may be true for lesser EVs, the Mercedes EQS is built to go the distance. This luxury sedan boasts an EPA-estimated electric range of up to 390 miles, which means you can drive from Lake Forest, Illinois, to St. Paul, Minnesota, without ever having to plug in. But the EQS boasts more than just a long battery life. As Michael Rosengarden, President of Autohaus Automotive, Inc. in Northbrook, explains, it’s a Mercedes through and through. “This is the S class of EVs. It’s an unbelievably beautiful car to drive, with everything you’d expect from a luxury Mercedes Benz. You’re getting that quality and clean energy. You don’t sacrifice one for the other.” As for Minnesota’s capital, it’s worth the trip. From St. Paul’s magnificent domed cathedral to its perfectly strollable Summit Avenue historic district, there’s plenty to recharge you before the drive home.
ASPIRE ON THE SHORE // 29
Powered by FlippingBook