Motor News

UPDATE 2/27/23: Details related to supply-chain issues, as well as specific 2023 and 2024 model-year information, were added to this story.You don’t need to travel at the speed of light to witness time travel. In fact, all you need is a subscription to Car and Driver to see the theory at work. How else can you explain the way we always send you a magazine dated at least one month ahead of the month of receipt?It’s not just magazines that appear to bend the space-time continuum. Vehicle model years frequently differ from the official calendar year. Your calendar may display the year 2023, but somehow new-car dealerships across the country are starting to stock 2024-model cars and trucks. What gives?Blame Franklin D. Roosevelt. Originally, automobile model years tracked calendar years. However, that practice changed in the mid-1930s, after FDR signed an executive order that dictated automakers release their new vehicles in the fall of the preceding calendar year “as a means of facilitating regularization of employment in the [automotive] industry.” Auto assembly-line workers are typically idled during a new-model changeover, and the president reasoned that if their idle period were to happen earlier in the fall, autoworkers would be able to maintain employment through the holiday season and would thus be able to spend more money.Some 90 years later, the tradition of releasing new vehicles in the final months of the preceding calendar year remains common. This custom, however, is by no means set in stone. Under Environmental Protection Agency rules, manufacturers can introduce a next-model-year vehicle for public sale as early as January 2 of the preceding calendar year—for example, a 2024-model-year vehicle can be sold starting on January 2, 2023. Conversely, manufacturers can introduce and release a new vehicle for sale as late as December 31 of the corresponding calendar year, so a 2024-model-year vehicle can be introduced up to and including December 31, 2024. Due to this wide latitude, manufacturers often bring out vehicles well before—and after—the traditional pre-holiday period.Two examples from the recent past are the 2016 Kia Sorento and the 2016 Mazda CX-9. While both vehicles wore the same model-year designation, the two mid-size crossover SUVs were released at very different times. In Kia’s case, the Korean company began selling its new 2016 Sorento in January 2015. At the time, a Kia spokesperson explained: “Model-year designations may be assigned because of the vehicle’s larger life-cycle plan.” The spokesperson added that “marketing, fuel economy, and homologation reasons” are also at play in this decision, and regulatory requirements may change from model year to model year.Meanwhile, Mazda chose to release its then-new 2016 CX-9 in the middle of the 2016 calendar year—nearly a year and a half after its Kia competitor. At the time, a Mazda spokesperson noted to us that several factors went into the company’s decision to label the late-release CX-9 a 2016 model and not a 2017, including Mazda’s desire to avoid potential consumer confusion that can come from selling a next-model-year vehicle in the current calendar year.Like Kia’s spokesperson, though, Mazda’s acknowledged that marketing also played a role in the CX-9’s model-year designation: “Based on [model year] 2016 numbers, the CX-9 [had] the best fuel economy of any non-hybrid mid-size three-row [SUV] in its class.” Had Mazda marketed the CX-9 as a 2017 model-year vehicle, it potentially would have lost that brag-worthy claim. Though the Mazda CX-9 retained its fuel-economy crown among its non-hybrid peers for the 2017 model year, the brand had no way of knowing this at the time of the SUV’s debut.More recently, supply-chain issues—largely related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors—have forced automakers to launch new model-year vehicles at earlier and later dates. For instance, Honda started selling the 2022 model-year Odyssey minivan early in the 2021 calendar year as a result of a supplier-related issue.As a spokesperson for the company shared with us at the time: “The timing of model year introductions varies from model to model for a number of reasons, some of which are out of our control. We pulled forward the introduction [of] the model year 2022 Odyssey primarily due to the discontinuation of the HondaVac feature in the Odyssey Elite at the conclusion of the 2021 model year based on a supplier issue.”More on the Sorento and CX-9Denoting a vehicle’s model year is its Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. In the early years, VINs—which were introduced in 1954—lacked any standardization. It wasn’t until 1981 that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required all vehicles sold in the United States to adopt today’s 17-character VIN, the tenth of which designates the model year. The letter P indicates the 2023 model year—or the 1993 model year—and R means 2024.Before the ascension of the VIN, manufacturers relied on their own internal serial numbers for marking specific vehicle information. This convention allowed automakers the freedom to determine a vehicle’s model year at will. Case in point: Faced with a backlog of unsold cars in 1951, Kaiser simply added a handful of new trim pieces and changed the serial numbers of leftover 1951 models in order to sell the cars as new ’52s. The company did the same thing two years later, renumbering unsold 1953 cars as 1954 models.Ultimately, the reasons a vehicle’s model year often fails to sync with today’s calendar year are fourfold: historical precedent, regulatory rules, marketing considerations, and, as of late, supply-chain issues. Time travel, however, has nothing to do with it—unless you happened upon a DeLorean in the mid-1950s.This story was originally published on November 11, 2016.Senior EditorDespite their shared last name, Greg Fink is not related to Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s infamous Rat Fink. Both Finks, however, are known for their love of cars, car culture, and—strangely—monogrammed one-piece bathing suits. Greg’s career in the media industry goes back more than a decade. His previous experience includes stints as an editor at publications such as U.S. News & World Report, The Huffington Post, Motor1.com, and MotorTrend. More

Hyundai has unveiled a facelifted version of the Elantra sedan for the Korean market.We expect to see these visual changes come to the U.S. for the 2024 Elantra, though we don’t have details yet.In Korea, the Elantra is called the Avante.The current-generation Hyundai Elantra’s angular design garnered attention when it first arrived for 2021, but it’s apparently time for a visual freshening already. Hyundai unveiled an updated version of the Korea-market Avante sedan, and we think this closely previews the 2024 Elantra that should reach the U.S. market later this year.With revised headlights, a slimmer front grille, and new wheel designs, the facelifted Elantra looks more attractive to our eye. Around back, the taillights look slightly different as well, and the rear bumper design is more aggressive. We can’t spot any obvious changes inside, but the Elantra may get infotainment upgrades and new standard features.HyundaiHyundaiWe don’t expect Hyundai to change the Elantra’s powertrains much for 2024, as the current 2.0-liter inline-four, hybrid, and turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four engine options should stick around. The high-performance Elantra N, with its powerful 286-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four, is likely to get similar styling changes for 2024 but it may arrive a few months after the standard car. The Elantra N is also the only version that offers a manual transmission, as the lesser N Line version with its 1.6T engine dropped its six-speed manual option after the 2022 model year.More on the ElantraLook for more information to come on the 2024 Elantra as Hyundai prepares to reveal the U.S. version of the car within the coming months. We expect it to go on sale on our shores later this year.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorDespite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.   More

It’s not official yet, but news that Mitsubishi is readying a Ralliart version of the Outlander PHEV for next year aligns with the company’s announcements these last few years.Mitsubishi said in 2021 it would bring the Ralliart name back and showed off the Vision Ralliart concept in 2022.If a report from Best Car is accurate, we can expect to see a 286-hp Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Ralliart sometime in 2024.For the past decade or so, Mitsubishi has kept quiet about its Ralliart performance sub-brand. In the U.S., we last saw vehicles with the name in 2014, when Mitsubishi used them on the Galant and Lancer sedans. But the rally and off-road racing brand was never going to disappear forever, and Mitsubishi said as much in 2021. Then, at the 2022 Tokyo auto show, Mitsubishi introduced the Mitsubishi Vision Ralliart concept, based on the Outlander SUV, to put some fresh metal on this storied name.According to the Japanese outlet Best Car, Mitsubishi is now getting ready to take the next step. The site reports that a production version of the Vision Ralliart concept will arrive sometime in 2024 with a modified suspension, increased body rigidity, and more output from the same 2.4-liter engine and plug-in hybrid powertrain used in the current Outlander. This model will reportedly produce 286 horsepower, up from the standard hybrid’s 248 horsepower, and will cost around $40,000–$45,000. Visually, it’s likely to resemble the concept, pictured here.MitsubishiMore on the OutlanderThe Outlander and other future Ralliart vehicles might be seen racing worldwide. Mitsu fans know that Ralliart made a name for itself in the 1980s and 1990s, participating in races like the World Rally Championship and the Paris-Dakar Rally. Officially, all Mitsubishi is staying today about where Ralliart goes from here is that the brand will evolve to showcase the “‘Mitsubishi Motors-ness’ and ‘manufacturing [spirit]’ with the highest technology of Mitsubishi Motors, while valuing its heritage.” As we said two years ago, when Mitsubishi announced the return of Ralliart, we’re not 100 percent sure what it will look like when this ‘Mitsubishi Motors-ness’ is realized. Still, we’re getting more excited about going along for the ride.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Contributing Editor Sebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

Range Rovers are the second most often stolen vehicle in the U.K., with most thefts occurring in London.Insurance brokers have responded by refusing to insure London-based Range Rovers, or increasing rates by as much as double.There have reportedly been no thefts of new-shape Range Rovers—yet.The Range Rover is a common sight in the metropolises of the world, built to handle mud and gravel but more usually seen gliding up to the valet at a fancy restaurant. Even on London’s busy and sometimes narrow streets, a wafting Rover is a popular choice, whether for actual Royals or just the very well-heeled. But in the U.K.’s capital city, Range Rovers have become popular with a more nefarious set.Thieves. (Or, as a London bobby might call them, the criminal element.) According to recent reporting from the U.K. magazine Autocar, Range Rovers have become the second most popular vehicle to steal in the U.K., with 5200 of them nicked in 2022. The vast majority of these thefts happened in London, and insurance companies have taken notice. (We know you will ask: the U.K.’s number-one most frequently stolen car in 2022 was the Ford Fiesta.)This situation isn’t like that of the recent rash of thefts of Hyundais and Kias. Instead of pranksters on TikTok, many of these Range Rovers are said to be stolen by networks of professional thieves taking advantage of keyless entry technology. Apparently it’s all too easy to fence a hot Range Rover, either locally or by shipping it overseas, never to be seen again. According to one investigator interviewed by Autocar, the issue isn’t with some security flaw, but simply because a Range Rover is a fat and valuable target. Crime pays.Insurance companies, on the other hand, do not enjoy paying out. Premiums for Range Rovers have reportedly skyrocketed in the U.K., doubling in some cases. That’s assuming you can get coverage at all, as some insurers will flat out not cover a Range Rover. Autocar did its homework here, requesting quotes on a current full-size Range Rover vs. an equivalently priced Bentley Bentayga. Quotes on the Rover topped out at the equivalent of $7200, double to triple the prices quoted for the Bentayga.Thefts reported are of older Range Rover models, not the current one. JLR representatives noted to Autocar that they were working on solutions to the insurance issue and further pointed out the advanced security features available via the company’s Remote app. C/D has also reached out to the automaker for additional comment.Back in the Day, a Jaguar Was a Hot TargetAs a fun aside, this is not Jaguar Land Rover’s first experience as the choice of criminals. In the 1960s, Jaguar’s Mk II sedans were the pick of the likes of Roy “The Weasel” James, a getaway driver in a number of brazen heists. In those cases, the Jag was picked for its ability to outrun the coppers. Here, the Range Rover is itself the ill-gotten gain.In the U.S., the most commonly stolen vehicle is the Ford F-150, a consequence of its ubiquity. But there are periodic hot spots of Range Rover theft too—one brief spate just happened north of the border in Edmonton, Alberta, where thieves made off with six 2017–2021 model Land Rover products.So if you own a Range Rover, perhaps invest in the best immobilizer and vehicle tracking technology you can afford. And if you see a bunch of shifty-looking figures with Cockney accents hanging around, best to lock the garage up extra tight. Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

There’s no question the Inflation Reduction Act is driving massive changes in the U.S. electric vehicle market, both for shoppers buying them and companies making them.No decisions have been announced, but the new law makes building EVs in America “very attractive,” Audi CEO Markus Duesmann said late last week.If Audi does build EVs here, it will be just the latest in a long line of companies. Following the signing of the IRA last August, over $28 billion in EV manufacturing investments for the U.S. have been announced.The IRA’s hits just keep on coming.The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was passed into law last August, shook up the electric-vehicle market in the U.S. One shakeup came in the way the law encourages domestic EV production, and the latest automaker to respond is Audi, which said Friday that it is evaluating construction of a new EV factory in the U.S. Full Details and Specs”The IRA has made building a U.S. plant for electric cars very attractive,” Audi CEO Markus Duesmann told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. Duesmann said if Audi does build EVs here, it would probably be at a joint plant with the Volkswagen Group, according to Reuters. The Washington Post quotes Duesmann as saying, “Decisions have not yet been made, but the VW Group will probably make more cars over there [in the U.S.] in the future for the U.S. market.” While Volkswagen has a plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Audi does not currently have any plants in the U.S., and the automaker’s e-tron EVs are built in Brussels, Belgium. The Audi production facility closest to the U.S. is in San Jose Chiapa, Mexico, where Audi builds the Q5. To qualify for some of the changed tax credits laid out in the IRA, EVs increasingly need to be assembled in the U.S. Other recent federal legislation, especially the CHIPS and Science Act, are also encouraging companies to make EV components, like batteries and silicon chips, in the U.S. The IRA’s details change as the years go on, but the overall trend has already prompted over $28 billion in EV manufacturing investment announcements between the signing of the law in August and the end of 2022, according to the Electric Vehicle Association. Figures from the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that investment in U.S. factories of all types is rising, too, from around $70 to $75 billion per quarter in 2020 to $88–$105 billion per quarter in 2022, the Washington Post noted. An analyst the paper spoke to said the industry expects these numbers to keep going up in the years to come as more incentives come online.More about the IRAAudi has ambitious electrification plans for its U.S. fleet. Audi of America has said it will have one-third of its portfolio be electrified by 2025. Audi has also said it will invest around $19 billion to develop and produce new hybrid and electric vehicles. A new U.S. plant would fit well with those plans. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Contributing Editor Sebastian Blanco has been writing about electric vehicles, hybrids, and hydrogen cars since 2006. His articles and car reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Automotive News, Reuters, SAE, Autoblog, InsideEVs, Trucks.com, Car Talk, and other outlets. His first green-car media event was the launch of the Tesla Roadster, and since then he has been tracking the shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles and discovering the new technology’s importance not just for the auto industry, but for the world as a whole. Throw in the recent shift to autonomous vehicles, and there are more interesting changes happening now than most people can wrap their heads around. You can find him on Twitter or, on good days, behind the wheel of a new EV.  More

Porsche has updated its Roads route-planning app with AI that seeks out twisty or scenic roads; to add to the AI input, the app’s 180,000 users can rate routes, create their own, and add in useful tips.The app was launched in 2019 but now has been upgraded with artificial intelligence that can help find roads to suit user-entered specifications.Route planning connects directly to any vehicle equipped with Apple CarPlay; no Porsche required.Artificial intelligence isn’t quite at the level of HAL or Skynet yet, but the internet has adopted the technology as its new fun toy. Want to see art of every U.S. president as a Pixar character, or challenge a chatbot to write a Seinfeld episode in the style of Shakespeare? AI can do that for you. But Porsche thinks AI can be more than just a distraction. It’s betting that AI can help you generate the drive of a lifetime.PorschePorsche launched its Roads app in 2019, and today the company says this app currently has approximately 180,000 users. The latest refresh adds in the ability for route planning that incorporates an algorithm to find the best way to get from point A to point B.Full Details and SpecsBig deal! Plenty of navigation apps already do that. But the difference with Porsche’s app is that “best” here is defined by the operator. Where Google Maps takes into account driving time or fuel efficiency, Roads lets the user select for a more challenging or scenic route. If you’re looking to tear things up in your 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, you set your profile to look for something curvy. Want to hit the sights on a cross-continent trip in a Cayenne? Roads will help you find the best local can’t-miss spots.Best of all, while the app currently runs only on iPhones, not Android phones, you don’t need a Porsche. Roads will work on any car fitted with Apple CarPlay, letting you pick out your route on your phone and then follow it on your car’s infotainment screen.Along with the AI-generated routes, Roads also incorporates crowdsourced elements. Users can rate the various routes, create their own, and leave comments.Where this tech really shines isn’t so much in your local area; if you’re an enthusiast, you probably have worked out your favorite back roads already. But if you’re on a road trip, or traveling in an unfamiliar area, the Roads app will help you find the good driving roads. It’s a free download, so make sure you have it with you on your next trip—and maybe take the upgrade at the rental counter for something a bit more fun to drive. Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More

It’ll be more expensive to charge at Electrify America stations starting on March 6.The company is raising its per-kilowatt-hour and per-minute prices—varied by location—by up to 5 cents.Pass+ members who pay $4 per month for discounted rates will also be impacted by EA’s upcoming price hikes.Get ready to pay more money when connecting to one of the thousands of Electrify America chargers scattered across the country. The company is raising rates up to 5 cents for its per-kilowatt-hour and per-minute charging options—which vary based on location—starting on March 6.People who have a Pass membership as well as guests who aren’t members will see the price for a per-kilowatt-hour session jump from 43 cents to 48 cents. Meanwhile, that same group will see prices in states that require per-minute charging also increase by 5 cents from 32 to 37 cents. That’s the price hike for fast-charging speeds up to 350 kW; the rate rises 3 pennies from 16 to 19 cents for those charging at speeds of 90 kW or less. Car and DriverWhile Electrify America says the people who pay $4 per month for the company’s Pass+ membership save roughly 25 percent on charging costs, they’ll still be affected by the upcoming price hikes. Their per-kilowatt-hour rate will jump from 31 cents to 36 cents. As with the people who don’t get a discount, Pass+ members see their per-minute pricing rise by 3 cents (0.12 to 0.15) for up to 90-kW charging speeds and by 5 cents (0.24 to 0.29) for up to 350-kW speeds.EA first made the announcement earlier this month in an email sent out to customers. The company cited rising energy and operational costs as the reason for the increased rates. Electrify America says it’s the largest fast-charging network in the country, most recently claiming 800 total stations and 3500 DC fast-chargers.Other Electrify America StoriesThis content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Senior EditorEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si. More

Before the 240Z arrived, the Datsun roadster showed that Japan could deliver sports-car thrills.This example has the later 2.0-liter engine, with twin SU carburetors and a recent rebuild.The auction runs through February 28. Car and DriverWhen the Datsun 240Z landed in California for the 1970 model year, many were shocked that Japan could produce a world-class budget-friendly sports car. Those who were more familiar with Datsun weren’t so surprised: There’d been a sporting Datsun in U.S. showrooms for the past five years.Related StoriesHere, up for sale on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos—is one of the best of the breed. This Datsun 2000 roadster is a zippy little open car that combines the best elements of open British sports cars with a gutsy 2.0-liter engine and Japanese build quality. With the auction slated to end on Tuesday, February 28, bidding is currently at $11,500.Bring a TrailerCar and Drivertagged the Datsun 2000 Roadster as a future collectible way back in 2010. Known as the SRL311 in Datsun cognoscenti circles, the 2000 Roadster was raced by Bob Sharp and John Morton, and it continually posted class wins in SCCA racing. It was the cheapest sports car in its division, but it beat the pants off everything else anyway. Overseas, the SRL311 was known as the Fairlady, as was true of the 240Z. The Fairlady nameplate can trace its heritage back to the 1950s, with the second generation of cars arriving in the U.S. in 1960. These cars are pretty and cheerful but fairly terrible to drive. They were based on the Datsun pickup truck, and they feel like it.Bring a TrailerThe later 1600 Roadster and the 2000 Roadster that followed are entirely different machines. Nissan (Datsun’s parent company) changed to a sedan-based design with an independent front suspension and a well-sorted leaf-spring setup in the rear. The engine was at first a 1.6-liter OHV four-cylinder, which later got five main bearings for durability. The later 2000 Roadsters, like this example, saw a displacement bump to 2.0 liters, got a five-speed manual gearbox, and could be ordered with a competition package with dual carburetors. Power was rated as 150 hp SAE gross, pretty lively for the 1960s, especially in a car that weighed barely over 2000 pounds.Along with many a podium finish, the roadster also features in a little-known David vs. Goliath rivalry. When Toyota fielded the gorgeous 2000GT in SCCA racing, the cars were supposed to go to Peter Brock’s BRE racing team. At the last minute, Carroll Shelby flew to Japan and charmed Toyota execs into giving him the contract instead. Brock had made a name for himself in Japan by getting a car called the Hino Contessa to perform and win a few races. Hino was snapped up by Toyota in the 1960s and turned to truck production only—namely, the Hilux. But the president of Hino was still on good terms with Brock, and he just so happened to have gone to school with the then-president of Nissan. Brock couldn’t get Datsun USA to part with a couple of Roadsters; instead, Brock’s came direct from Japan.There then followed a game of cat-and-mouse whereby Brock would show up at out-of-California races where Shelby’s 2000GT team was hoping to pick up an easy win or two. The Roadsters were running in a different class, but it was easy enough to hold up the 2000GTs and let the competing Porsches and Triumphs slip by. In the end, the 2000GT team lost the championship, and Toyota slunk home embarrassed.Bring a TrailerBring a TrailerEven without the fun footnotes of early Japanese SCCA history, the 2000 Roadster is a wonderful driver. The 240Z and the 510 are better known, but you can’t beat an open car for full involvement. This example is set up as a driver’s car, with a sorted suspension, Dunlop Direzza performance tires, and a host of recent engine work. The stickers that once covered the underside of the trunk show a lifetime spent attending various California rallies and generally having a lot of fun. It’s time for the next owner to add their own.Car and driverCar and driver Lettermark logoContributing EditorBrendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. More