Call it the Ocasio-Cortez Effect.
We are witnessing a pendulum swing of sorts—a backlash against the trappings of excessive wealth and conspicuous consumption—as signified by the election of the New York Congresswoman and her democratic socialist cohort.
So it isn’t a surprise that being seen in a gleaming Extreme Silver Bentley Continental GT W12, with its $276,730 sticker price, ain’t as cool as it used to be. Whereas such exotica used to invite a curious double take, now the driver can expect a direct, confrontational stare, with more than a wisp of resentment, bordering on contempt.
And let’s be clear, the only person who purposely buys a Bentley Continental GT W12 is wealthy, not merely rich. As Chris Rock once said, “Shaq is rich. The white guy who signs Shaq’s check is wealthy.” Rich guys buy Lambos. Bentleys are for those who blithely state that they are “comfortable” [...]
In the last update, I relayed what editor-in-chief Ed Loh’s wife, Giulia—er, Julia—a self-declared CTR “newbie,” thought of the Honda Civic Type R. But she wasn’t the only one who had a first drive. Her father, Bob, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot (KC-135A tankers and FB-111A bombers) had a stint, too. Ed explains why Bob is uniquely qualified to review the Civic Type R: “[He] is an especially keen car enthusiast, having owned over 60 vehicles in his lifetime (was proud to show me the records), and he has natural skills as a driver that must be related to his career.” Riding shotgun beside Bob, Ed reports, “He drove the car smoothly and confidently from the outset, during a quick city and highway jaunt.”
With permission, here’s the review he sent to his USAF buddies on an alumni list: “The new Honda Civic Type R is a [...]
Like, wow—it’s been 50 years since the original Woodstock music festival, where hundreds of thousands of hippies descended upon Max Yasgur’s farm in upstate New York. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, and other similarly iconic acts played over four days in the summer of 1969 at the greatest concert ever, and one of the most memorable relics of the event—besides the music, of course—lives again in the form of a 1963 Volkswagen Type 2 van called “Light.”
“The bus is really about being one people on one planet,” said original artist Dr. Bob Hieronimus in a statement. “On every side of the bus is a story—many stories—and the stories all point to unification, working together and a higher consciousness, which is what Light really is all about.”
Far out, man. You see, kids, back before Lyft and Uber, some folks hand-painted their vehicles and actually drove them [...]
The light goes green. The front tires jump, chirp as they lose traction, then settle as I pull away from the line. Such has been my experience with the Volkswagen Atlas. And before you jump to conclusions and assume I’m gunning it at every stoplight, let me assure you that I am not being overly aggressive in my acceleration. Unfortunately, our V-6-equipped brute is not equipped with the $1,800 optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, which means the entirety of the 266 lb-ft is directed forward overwhelming the limits of the front tires. And that’s when the ground is dry. When it rains, luckily a rare event in Southern California, you really have to let the Atlas begin to roll without giving it any throttle input in order to mitigate tire slippage. I would hesitate to drive in wetter, colder climates that could see snow or ice without replacing its current 245/60R18 Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires.
[...]Subaru has fully redesigned the Legacy sedan, but you’d never know it. The model sits on a new platform and features new technologies, but the exterior design changes are pretty minimal. That’s not surprising given Subaru’s conservative attitude toward vehicle styling. The question is: Is the subtle approach effective or not? Let’s take a closer look at the design updates on the 2020 Subaru Legacy.
Up front, the headlights look smaller, although very similar to the old design. There is no longer a frame around the grille, giving the new model a more streamlined appearance. The new grille also has sharper corners than the old one. The model pictured here has new black trim around the lower intake area.
When looking at the side profile, you’ll notice the biggest change is the new set of wheels. The two main character lines [...]
