Snow on the ground was the hope of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles executives for their recent gathering at the Ellis Ranch, west of Loveland near the entrance to the Big Thompson Canyon on U.S. 34.

For, you see, the occasion to which I was invited was the unveiling in this part of the country for the all-wheel-drive edition of the 2017 Dodge Challenger muscle car.

More than anywhere else in the country, the AWD version is aimed for Colorado and the states in the northeastern part of the U.S. It’s an indication that the Dodge Boys rate not only our winter weather, but our terrain, too, as toughest in the country.

To test the Challenger’s four-wheel grip on snowy trails wasn’t to be, however, for our two-week spell of temperatures in the 60s had removed any trace of winter at Ellis, a longtime working horse ranch now known for its event center and wedding park. In fact, Jan and I were there 18 months ago for the wedding of granddaughter Nicole Wells to Matt Ward.

In the absence of winter weather for the recent event, we drove the Challenger GT V-6 AWD models on dirt trails over the ranch’s rolling hills.

This four-wheel spin by Dodge lends the Challenger an edge in its keen competition with muscle-coupe rivals Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro, neither of which offer all-wheel drive. The three performance models, which date back to the mid- to late 1960s, are rear-wheel based.

With an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect, the Challenger GT will be equipped with the same system as that used in the bigger Dodge Charger AWD. The GT’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 delivers 305 horsepower and 268 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive will not be available with the more powerful V-8 Challengers.

Identifying the Challenger AWD models won’t be simple. There will be no AWD indicator on the exterior of the coupes. The only tipoff will be a small GT designation along the side of the Challengers.

The AWD addition cuts 3 miles per gallon highway fuel mileage off the V-6 models, from 30 mpg to 27.

“The GT seamlessly transitions between rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive with no driver intervention,” said Benjamin Lyon, Dodge Challenger specialist for FCA. Under normal conditions, the front axle is disengaged and torque is directed to the rear wheels. With the slightest slip, the system automatically engages the front axle in AWD mode.

Beginning base price for the Challenger GT is $33,395, plus $1,095 destination charge. The GT model I drove, finished in mango orange exterior with nappa leather performance seats, carried a sticker price of $38,965. It is built in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

With an excellent, albeit somewhat unusual, all-wheel-drive vehicle, Jan and I enjoyed a drive in to Boulder on a snowy day with wet roads and some ice.

The 2017 BMW X4 is a slope-backed SUV crossover hatchback, a four-door which has the looks of a coupe. This one, an M40i version, was boosted by a twin-powered, turbocharged inline-6-cylinder engine; a 4-cylinder turbo is the base engine for X4.

I was in a Germanic mode of mind as the BMW arrived a day earlier, having just parked the 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Coupe. These two brands, along with Porsche and Audi, all from Germany, represent the finest of luxury car building.

In the BMW, following lunch at Turley’s Kitchen on 28^th Street, we headed up Boulder Canyon, at 22 degrees a bit colder than the city.

The X4 climbed with decent power; push a Sport button and it turns very lively, performing as would be expected from a Bimmer’s turboed-6. Revs go higher as shifts are delayed, steering is quick and the taut suspension is tightened even more. It becomes a great handler of the twists and turns of the canyon; the ride, though, over rough pavement, can become a bit harsh.

The inline-6, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, generates 355 horsepower and 343 lb.-ft. of torque.

Midway up the canyon to Nederland, we reversed course back toward Boulder. From the turnaround to the old Red Lion Inn, I operated the BMW in manual-mode 3^rd gear to maintain a steady pace. The lower gearing and the X4’s all-wheel-drive setup added to a secure feel for the hatchback. A long-popular evening dining establishment, the Red Lion under new ownership two or three years ago was converted to a year-round special events and weddings venue.

BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system uses dynamic stability control to send torque to the outside rear wheel when cornering to improve traction, turn-in and directional stability.

Fuel mileage was somewhat disappointing, 22.5 miles per gallon for the 120-mile trip, dropping to 21.5 after some in-town runs later in the week. The X4 with the twin-power turbo-6-cylinder carries an EPA estimate of 19 in the city and 26 on the highway.

It can be a fun drive, from the feel of the tight bolsters of the front seatbacks to the electronic shifter to the paddles on the steering wheel.

The X4’s overall length of 184 inches falls between the X3 and X5, an inch longer than X3 and 8 inches shorter than X5. Still, its front-door openings are tighter than normal and the rear seats, to accommodate the sharply sloped roofline, sit relatively low and are a bit cramped.

Pushing the sticker price all the way to $67,495 are options, including a cold-weather package of heated front and rear seats and steering wheel and retractable headlight washers, adaptive full LED  lights and automatic high beams, navigation system and head-up display, 20-inch wheels, rearview camera and surround view.

While the X4 is assembled in BMW plant in Spartanburg, S.C., the engine is built in Austria and the transmission in Germany.

Mercedes-Benz C300

A stylish redesign of the ’17 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic Coupe. (Bud Wells) 

Mercedes-Benz put together a nicely styled redesign of the C300 4Matic Coupe for 2017. As for power, wouldn’t you know, it carries a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine beneath the hood.

Those turbo-4s have become hot, hot, hot, as automakers gain higher miles per gallon while retaining some sense of performance.

Regarding the Benz, scarcely noticeable are the shifts from its smooth 7-speed automatic transmission responding to the 4-cylinder engine. Horsepower is 241, and the coupe earns an EPA estimate of 23/29 miles per gallon. My overall average was 24.5.

From a diamond-block grille, centered with the big M-B star, over the long hood and back to the sloped roofline, the new coupe adds classy attraction to the C-Class lineup.

Lending added control from the driver seat are an electronic shifter, paddle shifters at the steering wheel and ability to switch drive mode from comfort to eco, sport or sport-plus.

Atop the center stack is the large 8.4-inch display screen for navigation, audio and climate control. Overcoming the common coupe complaint of near-inaccessible seat belts for the front seats are belt extenders, which after the driver is settled into the seat, move forward 8 inches for an easy handoff of the hook for the latch.

With the highly regarded 4Matic all-wheel drive at the corners, the C300 comes in at a reasonable base price of $44,650. Add supportive saddle brown leather seats, though, along with a host of safety items and sport finishes and the tally totals $57,975.

Also among the long list of options are linden wood trim, rearview camera, head-up display, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels with Pirelli Sottozero tires, Burmester surround-sound system, power-folding mirrors, panorama roof, adaptive high-beam assist, blind-spot and lane-keeping assist, and electronic trunk closer.

The coupe, built in Bremen, Germany, weighs in at 3,770 pounds on a wheelbase of 111.8 inches..