I’m not a country music fan, but I did grow up in the ‘80s. In fact, I was 10 when Kenny Rogers starred in the TV movie The Gambler. As a result, I still have etched in my brain the title song’s hooky chorus, which played in heavy rotation for much of my childhood: You […]
What Happened to Car Magazines?
Recently one of my Facebook groups was up in arms over a major announcement from Car and Driver magazine. In case you missed it, they’re changing from a 12-issue annual subscription to just six. But the new format will be larger, with double the pages and on better paper. So 6 = 12 in the […]
Model Building Is Key To Connecting Generations
Christmas was already a couple weeks ago. The tree is down, the cookies are gone, and all of the returns have been made (well, almost all). And now it’s time to enjoy the gifts we received. On a whim, I cracked open a model kit that I’ve had sitting on my shelf for several years. […]
Five New Year Resolutions for Car Enthusiast
Out with the old and in with the new. So long 2023. It’s 2024 now, and you know what that means. Yep, it’s time to make some meaningless New Year’s resolutions. But what if, instead of promising to start working work out, eat more healthy, or spend more time with family, you make a resolution […]
Matt Prior: Morgan back in the states, and protecting working SUVs
It’s no surprise to me to see how good the Morgan Super 3 looks on the dreamy, sun-dappled roads of California. What car wouldn’t look good there? But there’s something about the 3’s retro-futuristic appearance that particularly suits the place. It looks more at home there, I think, than in a Cotswold village. And last […]
Editor’s letter: Is Tata’s gigafactory the saviour of UK automotive?
Tata’s commitment to building a £4 billion gigafactory has the potential to be a shot in the arm for electric car manufacturing in this country – and not before time. The Tata announcement of a new 40GWh battery factory that will be online by 2026 is just the beginning of a solution rather than the […]
Editor’s letter: Why McLaren boss has most exciting job in automotive
“There’s a lot to do,” admits McLaren CEO Michael Leiters, who has been in one of the industry’s toughest yet potentially most rewarding jobs since July 1 last year. “It’s definitely challenging – but I think it’s the most exciting job in the automotive industry.” We first spoke to Leiters just a few weeks into […]
Origin of the species: driving the first turbocharged Porsche 911
Meanwhile, Porsche Motorsport’s legendary chief, Norbert Singer, was assigned to oversee the development of a diminutive 2.14-litre engine, and by the time he was finished, it was putting out a scarcely believable 500bhp, courtesy of some clever internals (we’re talking polished titanium rods and sodium-cooled valves) and a gargantuan KKK turbocharger slung out below the […]
Editor’s letter: Why does Aston Martin think it’s ‘under-valued’?
Lawrence Stroll’s presence with Aston Martin is a hugely visible one for 23 weekends a year, wearing the British Racing Green colours of the Formula 1 team he owns. Yet as the owner of the Aston Martin road car brand, Stroll is somewhat less visible, his appearances typically limited to investor calls. But this week […]
Inside the industry: Electric cars lead European industry comeback
The European figures for the first quarter of 2023, telling the stories or part-stories that will set the tone or provide the challenges for the rest of the year. What’s significant? Underlining the easing of the chip supply crisis, car registrations are up 17.9% year on year. That compares to the UK market’s rise of […]