From the High Desert to Mile Marker 0: Why the Minivan Is the Undisputed King of the Cross-Country Road Trip

There is a distinct moment on a long-distance drive where the landscape completely shifts, and you realize you’ve just experienced one of the greatest automotive routes the country has to offer. That is exactly the feeling of pulling up to a coastal sunset after a cross-state run—watching the fading sun hit the immaculate lines of a Porsche 911 GT3 with the salt air rolling off the ocean. While the backdrop of the sea feels miles away from our high desert home, there is no better way to test the mettle of a pure, track-bred machine than by mapping out a journey from the pavement of Bend straight to the rugged Oregon Coast. The Route: High Desert to Pacific Surf A true driver’s road trip across Oregon is a masterclass in geographic diversity, and the 911 GT3 is the ultimate instrument to carve it up. Imagine firing up that legendary powerplant at our Bend lot, pointing the nose west, and watching the sagebrush give way to the towering pine forests of the Cascade foothills. As you climb out of Central Oregon over the high-altitude sweepers of the mountain passes, the GT3 is entirely in its element. Dropping down the western slopes, the road transitions into the lush, canopy-covered curves of Highway 126, tracing the river valleys through the heart of the Pacific Northwest. By the time you cut through the valley floor and hit the coastal asphalt of Highway 101 near Florence or Newport, you’ve experienced every type of tarmac imaginable. The final reward? Hugging the dramatic ocean cliffs, hearing the engine note echo off the rock faces, and pulling over just as the sun touches the horizon to take in a view like the one captured here. Why this Generation is a "Blue Chip" Asset In the automotive world, the phrase "blue chip" isn't thrown around lightly. It’s reserved for special vehicles that stand the test of time—machines that represent a pinnacle of engineering, command historical respect, and hold an iron-clad position as highly coveted collector pieces. This generation of the 911 GT3 is exactly that. As the automotive landscape rapidly shifts toward turbocharging, hybridization, and heavy digital driver aids, this GT3 remains a glorious holdout of pure, analog motorsport heritage. The Crown Jewel Engine: At its core is a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six engine that screams all the way to a staggering 9,000 RPM redline. The power delivery is linear, instant, and accompanied by a raw, mechanical wail that modern turbocharged cars simply cannot replicate. Motorsport DNA: This isn't a standard 911 with a wing bolted to the back. The GT3 is developed directly by Porsche’s motorsport division. Every vent, the massive rear wing, the center-locking wheels, and the enormous brakes are there for functional aerodynamic downforce and track-level endurance. An Investment You Can Drive: What truly makes it a blue-chip vehicle is its dual nature. It is an appreciating asset that demands a premium in the global enthusiast market, yet it is robust enough to be driven hard across the state without missing a beat. It’s a collector car that begs to be utilized, not hidden away in a climate-controlled bubble. Find Your Next Journey at Auto Kings At Auto Kings, we are passionate about sourcing vehicles that don't just get you from point A to point B, but vehicles that turn every single drive into a lifelong memory. Whether your dream road trip involves carving up the mountain switchbacks up toward Mt. Bachelor, exploring the high desert backroads, or embarking on a full-scale cross-state run to the coast, we curate the inventory to make it happen. Next time you’re cruising through town, swing by our Bend location on Highway 20 or explore our active inventory online to see what world-class performance icons have landed on our floor. The road from the desert to the ocean is waiting. What keys are you taking?

There is a unique magic to the landscape just east of Bend out on Highway 20. As you approach the gateway to the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, the pine trees give way to ancient twisted junipers, volcanic vistas, and wide-open high desert skies. It’s a road built for driving, which made it the absolute perfect backdrop to experience a true masterpiece of British engineering. Parking this exotic machine right beneath the historic BLM sign in The Oregon Badlands provided an incredible visual contrast: pure, cutting-edge performance design framed by the raw, timeless textures of the desert. Aside from its jaw-dropping lines, what makes this specific Emira so special is its finish— Seneca Blue. Under the intense, clear Central Oregon sun, the metallic paint completely comes alive. It shifts from a bright, electric cerulean in direct light to a deep, moody sapphire in the shadows, perfectly tracing the aggressive aerodynamic channels and functional air intakes carved into the car's bodywork. But the real magic of the Emira lies beneath that brilliant paintwork. As the final internal-combustion hurrah from Lotus, the Emira is built on a specialized bonded aluminum chassis. By placing the engine directly behind the driver’s cockpit rather than under a long front hood, Lotus achieved the holy grail of sports car design: a true mid-engine performance platform. From a physics standpoint, this layout completely transforms how a car behaves on a winding road. Shifting the heavy mechanical mass to the center of the vehicle drastically lowers the polar moment of inertia. In plain English? The car rotates effortlessly. When you point the nose into a sharp, sweeping bend—like the curves stretching out toward Millican or the winding pavement through the Crooked River Gorge—the Emira doesn’t fight the physics of the turn. It pivots with laser-like precision, keeping the weight perfectly balanced across all four wheels. Furthermore, placing that engine weight directly over the rear axle acts like a natural launch pad. When you lean into the throttle coming out of a corner, the rear tires are pressed firmly into the asphalt, delivering immediate traction and explosive corner-exit speed without any front-end float. Paired with a traditional hydraulic steering rack that feeds every single ripple of the asphalt directly back to your fingertips, it offers an analog, connected driving experience that modern digital supercars simply can’t replicate. At Auto Kings, we are incredibly proud to bring these kinds of rare, high-performance icons to the local car community. From precision track toys to rugged, mountain-ready trucks built for the Cascades, our inventory is curated for drivers who appreciate the journey as much as the destination. Next time you’re cruising through Redmond on the South Hwy 97 corridor or heading through the Eastside of Bend, keep your eyes peeled—and be sure to check our active inventory page to see what unique arrivals are landing on our lots next. Central Oregon has some of the best driving roads in the Pacific Northwest. What's your ultimate machine for carving up the high desert backroads?

There is a unique kind of beauty that only exists in the high desert of Central Oregon. It’s found in the wide-open skies, the rolling sagebrush hills, and the weathered wood of places that have stood the test of time. On our latest drive north of the lot, we decided to skip the usual highway routes and head out toward Simnasho on the Warm Springs Reservation. Standing tall against the elements out there is the historic Presbyterian Mission church, a beautiful landmark built in the late 1800s. Seeing that century-old bare wood silhouetted against the bright blue sky is a stark reminder of the deep history rooted right here in our region. We brought the Cadillac Escalade along for the journey, and the visual contrast was incredible. Parking a modern, sharp white luxury icon right next to a piece of beautifully aged history felt like bridging two entirely different eras of travel. While the pioneers who settled this area faced rugged, unyielding trails, the Escalade handles the high-desert backroads like a rolling palace. With its whisper-quiet cabin, premium suspension, and panoramic views of the landscape, it’s the ultimate road trip rig for exploring the hidden corners of Central Oregon in total comfort. At Auto Kings, our favorite part of the job isn't just watching these premium vehicles roll off the lot—it's imagining the local adventures they're going to take you on. Whether you’re heading up toward Mt. Hood, exploring the history of Wasco County, or just cruising down the highway, the right vehicle turns a simple drive into an unforgettable story. Next time you're heading through town, swing by our Redmond lot right on South Hwy 97 to check out our newest premium SUV arrivals. Central Oregon has so many hidden gems waiting to be discovered—where is your favorite historic spot to drive to?