When I took delivery of my leased BMW X1, I already had a rough idea of the little changes I wanted to make to personalise it. The wheels and tyres were one. Original Equipment BMW bike racks were another. Then the floor mats were next. Floor mats are among the items most people rarely think about. They're there, they get dirty, and as long as they stay in place, most owners never ...
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The EV market is moving quickly. Manufacturers are racing to launch new models, chase longer range figures and introduce ever more technology. Against that backdrop, the Subaru Solterra XT might seem like a late arrival. After spending time with the car, I suspect Subaru would be perfectly happy with that observation. The Japanese brand has rarely been the first to jump on a trend. Instead, it has traditionally taken a more measured ...
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Running an automotive publication in 2026 is very different from how we did it when we started in 2009. Hmmm, as a matter of fact, my journey started earlier than that.I developed my first website, Burnpavement.com, in 2001.Long before social media, YouTube and AI, I was laying out magazine pages, teaching myself HTML and hand-coding websites one page at a time. I taught myself photography through countless books, magazines and hours ...
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Over the past 25 years, I have owned 29 cars. Only two of them were bought brand new. My first new car was a Mitsubishi Evo 9 GSR. The second was a Mazda2. Everything else was pre-owned. Perhaps it is the car enthusiast in me. Perhaps it is simply because I enjoy the hunt. There is something satisfying about finding the right used car, learning its quirks, making it your own and ...
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There’s something unexpectedly refreshing about speaking to Rene Gerhard. You sit down expecting another carefully polished corporate interview about electrification, premium mobility and the future of the automotive industry. Within minutes, the conversation drifts into Iron Maiden concerts, USB sticks full of ripped CDs, dogs, family memories, old BMWs and why he still refuses to stream music. He may be decked out in a suit, but Gerhard already feels less like ...
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Standing next to the new commanding BMW 7 Series in a quiet studio felt a bit unusual. No engine running, no movement, no road around it. Just seeing the new car in all its presence. That was my introduction to the new BMW 7 Series. No driving yet. No real-world impressions. Just a proper, up-close preview, a camera rolling, and a chance to explore it in detail while imagining how it will ...
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When Thilo moved from China to Singapore in August 2025 to take up the role of Managing Director for Pirelli Asia Pte Ltd, he did not arrive with a grand plan about scale or domination. Instead, he spoke about focus. About ecosystems. About long-term trust. With 25 years in the automotive industry and a front-row seat to China’s explosive growth across SUVs, EVs and autonomous technology, Thilo brings both realism and conviction ...
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The name might not ring a bell immediately. That is because KGM is essentially the new face of SsangYong. So it's a rebrand? Yep, but also a reset. Honestly, it was needed (I'm sure you would agree). SsangYong always had a bit of a reputation. Tough, capable, but never quite polished. Yes, some might also say, 'fugly'. The Torres EVX, however, feels like a clear attempt to move past that. Cleaner design, ...
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There was a time when MG meant something very specific. Lightweight roadsters, British charm, slightly rough around the edges, but full of character. Cars you drove for the feeling, not the numbers. Today, MG is a very different brand. It has grown up, moved on, and found itself in a space that is far more practical and, frankly, far more relevant to modern buyers. The MGS6 is a good example of that ...
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There’s a moment when you stand in front of the new BMW i3, and suddenly, everything just clicks. No, not in a dramatic way. More like a quiet realisation that something has definitely shifted. The proportions feel right, the tech feels intentional, and somehow, despite everything being new, it still feels like a BMW. Over conversations with Norman Wiebking, Stephan Durach and Oliver Heilmer, it becomes clear that this wasn’t accidental. Getting the ...
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Visiting Munich again felt familiar to me. It carries the history of the BMW brand in a way that’s hard to miss (or forget). But stepping into their renovated plant for a preview was especially exciting; it felt like catching something just before it fully comes to life. We were told that we were among the first to witness the plant's operations. The second batch, to be exact. So there was ...
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The one that quietly does everything right. Having spent years in advertising, I remember a line from a former creative director who once described the Volkswagen Golf as the Rolls-Royce of hatchbacks. It was clever because it captured something deeper than specs. It spoke about completeness. These days, “Rolls-Royce” gets thrown around quite freely. Footballers, watches, even kopi machines. It has become shorthand for something that does everything well, with a sense ...
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It’s been more than five years since I first drove the Defender First Edition, and I remember coming away impressed by how successfully Land Rover had reimagined the iconic nameplate. The new Defender managed to keep its rugged DNA while becoming far more comfortable and usable as an everyday vehicle. Fast forward to today, and the Defender continues to evolve. One of the latest developments sees the Defender 110 (not to ...
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An odour is defined as a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one. Or a lingering quality or impression that attaches to something. Step into BMW’s Odour Lab in Munich, and that definition takes on a more human dimension. Because smell, more than anything else, is emotional. "Going into the Odour Lab, I expected a facility that creates a signature scent for the brand. The reality couldn’t be more different." The things you don’t ...
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The unseen part of BMW’s Neue Klasse: Why sustainability starts before the car exists When BMW talks about the Neue Klasse, the conversation usually leans towards the obvious. Range, charging speeds, performance, and digital interfaces. The things you can see, measure, and compare. But after speaking with Nils Hesse, BMW’s Vice President for Product Sustainability, it became clear that the more interesting story begins much earlier than that. Before the car is designed. ...
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