Jim Coleman Cadillac displays Escalade EV at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Jim Coleman Cadillac of Bethesda has given a glimpse of the future of the Cadillac Escalade SUV at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The 2026 Escalade IQ Sport is an electric version of the highly-popular truck. It's a big truck, with a big price: $140,430, as outfitted here. Jim Coleman Cadillac is located right across from the mall at 10400-A Auto Park Avenue.

Electric Dodge Charger EV arrives in Rockville (Photos)

The dawn of the electric muscle car age is upon us in Rockville. DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Rockville at 755 Rockville Pike has just received one of the first Dodge Charger EV coupes. It arrived a few days ago, according to a salesperson at the dealership. This is the Daytona Scat Pack Track version. While parent company Stellantis has expressed regret for its attempt to boost revenue via high prices in recent years, the $85,965 sticker price on this car will still induce shock to the faint of heart.

DARCARS says gasoline-powered V6 coupe and 4-door sedan versions will arrive later this year. Personally, I am thrilled with the new design that recalls the iconic 2-door 1969 Charger. Dodge has wisely made it available in orange. No word if "01" door numerals are an option.

Juvenile steals Tesla Model Y for Christmas in Rockville

A juvenile had a jolly joyride in a Tesla Model Y on Christmas, despite the Rockville Tesla dealership's best efforts to scare him away. Security discovered the juvenile hiding inside the dealership at 1300 Rockville Pike at 11:41 PM on December 25. They "chased him away," Rockville City police said. The next morning, however, Tesla employees found that a 2025 Model Y had been stolen, and remains missing.

Police describe the suspect as a Black male in his early teens, 5’03” tall with a medium build, and wearing a green jacket and brown pants. If you can identify the suspect, call police at 240-314-8900.

VW ID Buzz spotted in Rockville (Photos)

Volkswagen's new ID Buzz electric van was anticipated to arrive in U.S. showrooms around Thanksgiving. And sure enough, the buzz-generating homage to the iconic VW Bus is beginning to pop up in Montgomery County this weekend. One is on display at Ourisman Volkswagen of Rockville at 801-B Rockville Pike. It is an ID Buzz Pro S model in Deep Black Pearl, with "Moonlight" interior. Including destination charge, the MSRP is $62,280.

You're paying a premium for being one of the first on the road in the ID Buzz, which is likely to turn heads as you travel around the county. You're also paying for legendary German engineering and craftsmanship, as this particular ID Buzz was assembled in the great city of Hannover in Germany, not in Mexico or China. Baltimore is listed as the port-of-entry on the sticker. Black didn't seem to be a popular color on the original VW Bus; I've never seen one on the road in the U.S. But I've ridden in several of the classic version, and grew up to be a big fan.

If the ID Buzz is successful, perhaps VW will realize that the brand's appeal was its distinctive car designs and German quality. The company is going through a tough period at the moment, and has suggested it could close one or more factories in Germany for the first time in its history. It is being hammered by German and European "green new deal" policies that have slashed the advantage European automakers had in the gas-powered market, while throwing them into the fire of the electric car market, where China has built up strong advantages with equally-strong Chinese government support.

Police called after assault at auto dealership in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault on Rockville Pike this past Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The assault was reported at an auto dealership in the 800 block of Rockville Pike at 12:00 PM. There are two dealerships located on that block. 

HEMIs make their final model year last stand at DARCARS in Rockville (Photos)

It's the end of an era at DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at 755 Rockville Pike in the Ritchie Center. Some of the final "last call" vehicles in the Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300 lines are now on the premises. Parent company Stellantis has claimed these will be the final HEMI V8 models of these nameplates to ever be produced. In fact, the last HEMI car rolled off of the Brampton, Ontario assembly line only a few days ago. Earlier in the year, it was rare to see these models on the lot here.

Dodge Hornet arrives in Rockville (Photos)

The new Dodge Hornet has arrived in Rockville. This Dodge Charger-inspired crossover SUV in now in stock at DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Rockville at 755 Rockville Pike. It's an American version of the Alfa Romeo Tonale. The Hornet is available in hybrid and old-fashioned combustion models.

Lotus of DC advertising down the Pike in Rockville

Lotus of DC is advertising its presence further down MD 355 at the Ourisman Mazda/Volkswagen dealership at 801-A Rockville Pike. A Lotus with the dealership's website URL is parked out front in a Mazda-reserved space. The real dealership is further north at 15301 N. Frederick Avenue, where the old Ourisman Chevrolet showroom has been being remodeled for Lotus sales. It opened last year, and operates from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday - Friday.

Car stolen from dealership in Rockville

Rockville City police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from an automobile dealership on Rockville Pike yesterday afternoon, March 11, 2023. The vehicle was taken from a dealership in the 800 block of Rockville Pike. There are two dealerships on that block: Ourisman Mazda and Ourisman Chevrolet. As thefts from dealerships have persisted recently, a security vehicle has been seen patrolling the Chevy dealership lot at night.

Car stolen from dealership in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a stolen vehicle at an auto dealership yesterday afternoon, December 21, 2022. The vehicle was reported stolen at a dealership in the 1300 block of Rockville Pike at 2:15 PM on Wednesday. There is a new Tesla dealership on that block.

King Buick GMC closes in Rockville (Photos)

It's the end of an era at King Buick GMC at 16200 Frederick Road in Rockville. The dealership has closed permanently, although some vehicle inventory remains on the property. King Motor Company was born in 1928, but it was in the 1950s that King family scion Conrad V. Aschenbach opened his first dealership in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. His son, Bill Aschenbach, said the family was forced to sell the dealership because it could not find another location in the area. The dealership's property will become an EYA townhome development, and be annexed into the City of Rockville.

Bill Aschenbach says that he will join a new dealership group founded by his son, Conrad. That group expects to have nine dealerships by December 31 of this year. The existing King franchise is being acquired by Criswell Automotive at its Gaithersburg Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership. But many of the King employees from this location will be moving to the Ideal Hyundai Buick GMC dealership in Frederick, Maryland, Aschenbach said.  

This is the second venerable car dealership to be lost along this stretch of MD 355 in the last decade. Reed Brothers Dodge at 15955 Frederick Road was the first Dodge dealer in Montgomery County. Today, the Bainbridge Shady Grove apartments stand on its former site.

Tesla opens new gallery in Rockville (Photos)

Tesla has opened a new gallery location in Rockville. What's particularly interesting is the location: 1300 Rockville Pike. This is where upstart Tesla competitor Rivian was operating out of earlier this year. Unlike Rivian, which never posted signage or other visible signs of its presence, the new Tesla facility has signage. Behind the large glass windows is a welcoming showroom, with Tesla vehicles on display inside and out in front of the building.

This location is so new, it doesn't even appear on the Tesla website yet. Tesla has an existing Rockville area gallery and service facility at 52 Derwood Circle. Rivian has closed its operations here on the Pike, and will be relocating its Montgomery County operations to another site. Unlike Rivian, it appears Tesla will be able to fully capitalize on this high-profile location on one of Maryland's busiest highways.