Team Nor’Wester

Mercedes Lilienthal is an Oregon-based automotive journalist and PR/marketing consultant who specializes in all things related to vehicular adventure travel, the auto industry, and women within it. She is the Editor-At-Large of TREAD Magazine, Feature Editor at Toyota Cruisers & Trucks, and contributor for several outlets like The New York Times, Car and Driver, Forbes, Autoblog, and more.

Mercedes has extensively covered the Rebelle Rally—as a driver and a journalist. She is one of a few competitors who has participated in both 4×4 and X-Cross classes. Last year, her team made history as the first crossover EV to finish the Rebelle Rally, as well as one of the first teams in the world to finish a major competition in a full EV crossover, too.

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emily Winslow is a project manager with an adventurous spirit. She currently lives in Puyallup, WA with her husband and three cats. Emily is a manager who specializes in first responder pre-employment testing. She keeps testing available and safe, she assists fire and police departments across North America find new personnel. Emily enjoys solving challenges that arise each day by thinking about all sides of the issue and creating unique solutions—a key trait for traditional navigation and rallying.

Emily competed in the Rebelle Rally three times. In 2018, she placed 2nd in the crossover class. In 2018 and 2019, she was the navigator of Team Naviguessers (in her own Subaru Crosstrek). In 2021, Winslow navigated the aforementioned ID.4 all-electric vehicle for Volkswagen of America. Additionally, her husband and her nabbed 1st place Novice in the Northwest Rally Council Friday Nighter TSD season.

The love of rallying and manual transmissions brought us together, but Volkswagen of America and a common love for adventurous challenges solidified our partnership as a team. Well, that and Cheez-Its!