Tag: BMW

December 20, 2020

My Favorite Vehicles of 2020

Some will look at it from the lens of the global headlines. Headlines not worth repeating for the sake of keeping us in good spirits. Some will look at the overall challenge of navigating a year full of curve balls and emotional rollercoasters.

November 29, 2020

My Thoughts Exactly: 2021 MINI Countryman

Fast forward to 2003 when BMW sorted out what they wanted to keep from its acquisition of Rover Cars. They loved how MINI changed the automotive universe back in 1959, so the Bavarians wanted to sow more lightning from the bottle. Well…they did.

November 18, 2020

My Thoughts Exactly: 2020 BMW 3-Series

The Bavarian purveyor of "the ultimate driving machine" have been on this site before. In some controlled settings, such as drive events put on by media groups or the company. That 20 minutes behind the wheel of a car with the Roundel badge can be the most stressful thing I have ever done that year. You get one small shot with a BMW – and the pressure is on to deliver something for the Bimmer fans and owners that read this website.

November 16, 2020

Commentary: The Culture of the Roundel

In the automotive world, one expects a certain level of excellence from the products made by the Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. The automobiles BMW produce delivers exactly what serious automotive enthusiasts want: Performance and handling without compromise. It is a reward for the driver who needs an instant dose of vehicular therapy to take on the road in his or her BMW by fulfilling motoring excellence at every corner.

September 6, 2020

Cars That Will "Sashay Away" This Year

One of them will be the year of "thinning the herd," which, sadly, can be taken many ways. However, this term is apt for something that have been a trend in the North American automotive market – the elimination of models from their respective lineups.

September 3, 2020

Three New Takes on Luxury For A Post-Pandemic World

Consider who is doing the unveiling – Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, and Jeep. Three long-awaited new vehicles that represent three iconic model names. Two of which are new generation models. The third is the resurrection of a long-running nameplate.

May 19, 2020

My Favorite Track Weapons

The subject of track days came about during a discussion on advanced driver education programs. There has been a push to create driver education programs for teenagers by teaching them advanced, but necessary skills. Car control is a huge piece of the puzzle, as teenagers need to understand how their vehicle can react when presented with a dangerous situation. It used to be called "defensive driving," but teaching these skills on controlled environments raises this concept to new levels.

May 13, 2020

My Thoughts Exactly: 2020 Toyota GR Supra

One question I could ask is "why?" It is plainly obvious what that answer would be. Because you watched enough of Vin Diesel and the late Paul Walker to understand why the A80 Supra became an icon. A few of you own one right now, perhaps for the reason that you saw it on screen and thought "I want that."

May 3, 2020

Historiography: The Once Mighty World Conqueror

Interestingly enough, it was not Willys Overland’s civilian Jeep lineup that would be the world conqueror in the post-World War II universe. That would come from one of the vehicles influenced by the Jeep – the one the British automotive industry would produce as one of their own.

April 24, 2020

Commentary: What's In A Logo?

This question came up as I am working with a 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport for publication very soon. It is the first Volkswagen in the North American market to wear the new corporate logo. You will see the logo on future products, including the 2021 Atlas.