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Studebaker’s Avanti was a last, lovely roll of the dice for the independent carmaker.The R2 version featured a supercharged 289-cubic-inch V-8 and only 1833 were built.This no-reserve auction runs through July 5.Car and DriverThe grille-less design of the Studebaker Avanti is perhaps an acquired taste, but the story of the car’s creation has broad appeal. Tasked with shuttering Studebaker’s car operations and focusing on trucks only, new president Sherwood Egbert instead rolled the dice on a radical design sketched out on a cocktail napkin during a cross-country flight. Working in a rented house in Palm Springs, the design team pulled the car together in record time. The dramatic result, though, couldn’t save the company. This well-kept and supercharged Studebaker Avanti R2 is for sale on Bring A Trailer, which like Car and Driver is part of Hearst Autos.Bring a TrailerFirst, a brief history lesson. During the 1950s, Studebaker was a long-established brand that was essentially caught in the three-way crossfire between General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. While the domestic auto giants battled it out, Studebaker edged closer to bankruptcy, and despite a merger with Packard, was barely keeping the doors open as the 1960s arrived. Enter Sherwood Egbert, ex-USMC Major. Despite having a name suitable for an accountant, Egbert had served in the South Pacific during WWII and was as tough as they come. He came to head Studebaker via the Packard merger, as Packard owned the company Egbert worked for, McCullough Motors. McCullough Motors was a chainsaw manufacturer (now part of Husqvarna) and also had a supercharger division called Paxton Automotive, still around today.Bring a TrailerEgbert arrived at Studebaker without any automotive experience, but he grabbed the reins with both hands. Convinced that the market had room for a small, premium four-seater, he tasked the team of Raymond Loewy, Tom Kellog, Bob Andrews, and John Ebstein to design a car in just 40 days. (As an aside, Kellog, the youngest of the four, would go on to sketch out the original Star Trek shuttle.)Underneath, the Avanti was basically Studebaker’s older Lark model, but with a stylish fiberglass body on top. Think four-seat Corvette—the body was built by the same supplier that made body panels for the ‘Vette in the 1950s.Also recycled was the 289-cubic-inch V-8 from the Studebaker Hawk. Happily, thanks to the Paxton link, strapping a supercharger on that engine cost just $210. As the Avanti was just over $4000 to start, the car was something of a performance bargain.Bring a TrailerThis 1963 example is fitted with that optional supercharger, giving the V-8 a healthy 290 horsepower and 303 pound-feet of torque. With a three-speed automatic transmission and limited-slip differential, and niceties such as power steering and electric windows, this Avanti Red coupe would have turned a few heads in its day. It still does.As one of just 1832 R2 models built for the 1963 and 1964 model years, it is a rare and collectible machine. Again, think of it as a more genteel Corvette, and the appeal is obvious.As for Egbert and his dreams, those ended in 1963 as the Avanti failed to sell in sufficient numbers. Further, he was diagnosed with cancer in 1962 and did not survive the decade.But back in August of 1962, when this car was built, a trio of supercharged Studebaker Avantis showed up at the Bonneville Salt Flats and proceeded to break some 29 production-car speed records. The next year, Avanti serial number R1007 set a speed record of 170.81 mph, making it the fastest production car in the world.The original Avanti’s flame burned briefly but brightly. And an early-’60s example like this is still filled with that spirit of audacity.Contributing 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

On the eve of the 24 Hours of Spa, Maserati has taken the covers off its new GT2 race car. Set to begin competition later in the year, the MC20-based mid-engine machine picks up where its predecessor, the MC12, left off. play iconThe triangle icon that indicates to playThe Maserati GT2 uses the same twin-turbo Nettuno V-6 found in the MC20 road car, tuned for GT2 regulations. Decked out with extra aero and standard safety equipment, it’ll make its debut in the “final stages” of the 2023 Fanatec GT European Series, with plans to race the entire 2024 season. Earlier NewsThe MC12 that predates the MC20 had a long and storied history in the GT category, having dominated from 2005 to 2010. Maserati has been doing shakedown runs at the Autodromo Varano de’ Melegari and Monza leading up to the GT2’s reveal. Now’s the first time we can see it without any camouflage.Part of a Strategy”Our DNA and our spirit have always lain in racing. Our story began and developed from the track to the road,” CEO Davide Grasso said in a statement. “The decision to return to track racing forms part of a thorough strategic framework, inaugurated this year with the debut in Formula E, to which we have now added our return to the world of GT competitions. Now more than ever we want to rekindle and nourish that competitive passion that has always characterized and motivated us to achieve major milestones.”Much More MaseratiRoad & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing. More

INEOS teased a pickup-truck version of the Grenadier SUV, called the Quartermaster, ahead of a reveal at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.A shadowy image reveals a bold, strong looking tailgate and the same round taillights as seen on the Grenadier SUV.INEOS will also reveal a hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered prototype at Goodwood, although it’s unclear how production-ready the concept is.Last fall, INEOS, a British chemical company, branched out into new territory when it began production of its first vehicle, the Grenadier 4×4, in France. INEOS is now readying its Land Rover Defender impersonator for the U.S. market by the end of 2023. But before the Grenadier reaches our shores, INEOS is providing a look into the future of its automotive ambitions at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month, where it will reveal a new pickup-truck variant and a hydrogen-powered prototype.INEOS today showed a teaser for the new truck, which will be called the Grenadier Quartermaster. We expect the Quartermaster to be identical to the Grenadier SUV from the cab forward, and it will debut as a double cab, with no word on the possibility of a regular-cab version. The teaser shows a tough-looking tailgate with Grenadier boldly stamped in it, while the singular round taillights from the SUV remain. The Quartermaster will be shown in full on July 13 before making a run up the Goodwood Hill Climb.Sean_DVR/INEOSAlong with the Quartermaster, INEOS will reveal a Grenadier-based Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Demonstrator. This is not the first time INEOS has shown interest into hydrogen power, but it will mark the first fuel-cell prototype we’ve seen from the new automaker. No other details were provided, but more should be revealed before the FCEV Demonstrator also heads up the iconic hill-climb.INEOS aims to start sales of the Grenadier in the U.S. by the end of this year, with pricing for the off-road-ready SUV opening at $73,100. The Grenadier is powered by a BMW-sourced 3.0-liter six-cylinder producing 282 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. INEOS is predicting an EPA combined fuel-economy rating of just 15 mpg, and it will be offered with front and rear electronic locking differentials and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires.More on the GrenadierThis 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.Associate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

People who drive diesel- or gas-powered vehicles can pull up to almost any fuel pump and fill their tanks without having to think twice. It’s not that simple for EV drivers. That’s because electric vehicles currently have one of several different charge ports, from the oddball CHAdeMO to the more common Combined Charging System (CCS) and Tesla’s propriety North American Charging Standard (NACS).Tesla’s NACS charge port and the company’s extensive network of Superchargers are largely considered the gold standard, and it appears other automakers are ready to make Tesla’s system the industry standard. Back in May, Ford was the first to agree to team up with Tesla and adopt the NACS plug, then the dominos started falling, with several other automakers recently announcing agreements with Tesla. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International also just announced that it will standardize the NACS connector. With other automakers—and charging networks—expected to adopt Tesla’s plug, we’ve compiled a list of them as well as those we’ve heard are in talks to join. We’ll update this list as new agreements are confirmed or if we hear of more potential deals. Automakers That Have Agreements with TeslaFordStarting in the spring of 2024, Ford EV owners will have access to the Tesla Supercharger network. Currently, the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E feature a CCS-type charge port, but an adapter will allow them to connect to Tesla’s fast-chargers. Sometime in 2025, Ford says its new EVs will feature a standard NACS plug.GMGeneral Motors was the second automaker to ink a deal with Tesla to adopt its charge port. GM EV owners will gain access to Tesla’s Superchargers starting in 2024 with an adapter that lets their CCS ports work with NACS. GM will begin making NACS standard on all of its EVs starting in 2025. The company also said it will offer adapters so NACS-equipped models can connect to CCS chargers.RivianFollowing Ford and GM, Rivian has agreed to work with Tesla, with the R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV getting NACS ports sometime in 2025. An adapter for those models will become available next year. Polestar/VolvoPolestar and Volvo are the first foreign automakers to team up with Tesla. The Chinese-owned Swedish brands will both make the NACS port standard on all of its EVs starting in 2025. Like the other companies, an adapter to make their CCS ports compatible with Tesla’s Superchargers will be offered in the first half or middle of next year. Polestar and Volvo will also offer a NACS-to-CCS adapter for those who need to connect to a non-Tesla charger.Automakers Reportedly In Talks with Tesla HyundaiHyundai Motor Company, which also includes the Kia and Genesis brands, is reportedly looking into making its EVs compatible with the NACS port, per a report by Reuters. While the Korean automaker has publicly expressed interest, Hyundai President Jaehoon Chang is also said to have expressed concern over the fact that Tesla’s 400-volt fast-chargers currently don’t allow the higher charging speeds that Hyundai’s 800-volt electrical architecture is capable of on other chargers.StellantisStellantis executives have confirmed that the company is considering adopting Tesla’s charge port, according to a report by Reuters. However, an official deal has yet to be announced. In the U.S. market, the automakers that are part of Stellantis include Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram.Volkswagen Volkswagen is said to be considering a deal with Tesla, as reported by Reuters. The automaker’s decision to adopt a NACS port would likely impact other brands under its umbrella, which in the U.S. market include Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Porsche, and Lamborghini.Charging Networks Adopting NACSAlong with the automakers who have announced agreements with Tesla, some public charging networks have also inked deals to offer the NACS connector at its stations.ChargePointChargePoint has announced it will add the NACS-type plug to its charging stations. However, the company hasn’t revealed any specific details about when that will happen, other than simply saying it will be “soon.” ChargePoint also said it will continue to offer other types of chargers.Electrify AmericaElectrify America, which is owned by the Volkswagen Group, has announced that it too will adopt Tesla’s NACS connector. The charging network said it plans to offer the new plug at its stations in 2025. It will also continue to offer other types of plugs.Following the NACS MovementSenior 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 journalism 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

Porsche has unveiled the 911 Carrera GTS Le Mans Centenaire Edition, celebrating 100 years since the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.The silver paint and number 46 racing number reference the 1951 356 SL, while the gold wheels and red seatbelts are callbacks to the 1998 911 GT1.The Centenaire Edition is only being offered in France, and Porsche didn’t specify how many copies of the special 911 will be built.This year, 2023, marked 100 years since the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The centenary edition of the iconic race drew a record-setting crowd and displayed dramatic racing among the new Hypercar class and the GTE cars. To celebrate the anniversary, Porsche has revealed the 911 Carrera GTS Le Mans Centenaire Edition, a limited production model that takes cues from two Le Mans–winning race cars, the 356 SL and the 911 GT1. Unfortunately, this slick-looking special edition is destined only for the French market.PorscheThe Centenaire Edition starts off with a GTS-spec 911, packing a rear-mounted twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 473 horsepower. Both a seven-speed manual and the eight-speed PDK automatic transmission are offered. Based on the lack of a “4” in the name, we presume the special edition will not be available with all-wheel drive, so all 420 pound-feet of torque are sent to the rear wheels. The color scheme draws heavily on the 1951 class-winning 356 SL, painted Le Mans Silver Metallic and featuring a roundel on the door with the number 46. Inside, the bucket seats are upholstered in Graphite Blue leather and corduroy, emulating the 356 SL’s cabin. The same blue leather adorns the steering wheel, with a 12-o’clock marker in Cayon matching the accents on the dials, SportChrono clock, and stitching.PorscheThe cabin also features an outline of the Circuit de la Sarthe on the center armrest and “24h” embossed into the headrest, while the red seatbelts are a stylistic reference to the 911 GT1 that took the overall victory in 1998. The GT1’s influence can also been seen in the wheels, painted in a gold color called Aurum with the outer ring finished in Le Mans Silver Metallic. The Centenaire Edition also features a decorative decal on the small rear side windows that imitates the louvers worn by the ’98 GT1.The special 911 is further distinguished by unique badges, including one with the “24h Le Mans” logo enclosed in a laurel wreath with the Porsche script on the rear grille. The grille also includes a decal reading “Born in Le Mans, Manufactured in Zuffenhausen,” while the B-pillar sports an emblem with a track outline in the French tricolor. The doorsill trims mark this 911 as a special edition.PorschePorsche gifts every buyer a key pouch and car cover in Graphite Blue. There’s no word on price or how many will be built, but the Le Mans Centenaire Edition is likely a fair chunk more expensive than a normal GTS, which starts at $144,050 in the U.S.More Special 911sThis 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.Associate News EditorCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan. More

Ferrari has unveiled a more extreme edition of its SF90 supercar—the SF90 XX—intended to blur the lines between a racing car and a grand tourer.More horsepower has been squeezed from the car’s plug-in-hybrid powertrain, and Ferrari claims a zero-to-62-mph time that’s 0.2 second quicker than the SF90’s, which would put it below the 2.0-second mark to 60 mph. Both a Stradale coupe and a Spider convertible will be built, but in limited numbers; both body styles are already sold out.Against the backdrop of the famed Pista di Fiorano racetrack, Ferrari has launched its latest performance icon, the SF90 XX, which invokes the double-X moniker that’s typically applied to the brand’s most high-performing track-only models. Lighter, more powerful, and with revised aerodynamics, the special-edition SF90 is the first XX variant that’s street legal and sits at the extreme edge between a racing car and a roadgoing Ferrari sports car. A Higher Level of PerformanceThe SF90 XX models are powered by the same plug-in-hybrid powertrain as the standard model, which comprises a twin-turbocharged V-8 engine and three electric motors. But for the SF90 XX, Ferrari engineers have tweaked the twin-turbo V-8 engine to squeeze more power out of it. The V-8’s inlet and exhaust ports have been polished, new pistons have been swapped in, and the compression ratio has increased. Peak power is 786 horsepower, an increase of 17 hp. Combined with a new Extra Boost feature for the electric motors, total system output is 1016 horsepower, a gain of 30 hp.Extra Boost is limited to the Qualify drive mode and works to quickly get the car back up to speed upon exiting a corner. The feature is actuated when the driver floors the throttle and can be used up to 30 times before the battery is depleted. When not in Qualify mode, the SF90 XX should still be able to drive for about nine miles on battery power alone. More Double-X Ferraris Ferrari Models to Drool OverChanges have been made to the car’s eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox too. New shift logic is borrowed from the Daytona SP3, and gearchanges are accompanied by a snarling exhaust note with a lift-off overrun at higher RPM. The raspier sound, which is piped into the cabin via a redesigned tube connecting the intake to the cabin, gives the SF90 XX the auditory experience of a race car—and we’re here to tell you that it is both loud and goosebump-inducing. Ferrari’s official claim is a zero-to-62-mph time of 2.3 seconds, which is 0.2 second quicker than the SF90. When we tested the standard SF90 Stradale back in 2021, we recorded a blistering and record-breaking 2.0-second time, which would put the XX’s time into the 1s. Downforce Is SupremeBeyond the giant fixed rear wing, Ferrari has redesigned much of the SF90’s aero elements to increase downforce. The company claims the SF90 XX can create a maximum of 1168 pounds of downforce at 155 mph, which is a huge leap compared with the 860 pounds of the SF90 Stradale. The XX retains the active rear spoiler from the SF90, which has been redesigned to work with the fixed wing and switches between low-drag and high-downforce positions.The hood is punctuated by two nostrils that serve as an exhaust for the air passing through the front radiators. The hot air flows from these ducts are directed up and over the roof of the car while cooler air is directed around the cockpit to the large side apertures that serve to cool the V-8. In addition, the radiators used to cool the electrical components are flipped upside down in the SF90 XX to allow for a flusher underbody. Ferrari has also enhanced the SF90 XX’s electronic systems in the name of better performance and lap times. A new chassis-control system, borrowed from the 296 GTB, uses three yaw sensors to better triangulate the car’s real-time dynamics to maximize braking performance. Looks Like a LongtailThe more complex engineering has spurred several changes to the car’s design. Integrating the large fixed rear wing, for example, meant altering the rear end of the SF90 XX, which has been elongated to give it a sort of longtail silhouette. The new outlets on the hood are beautified with a contrasting paint color, and the fender-mounted air inlets serve as inspiration for the interior door-panel design.Speaking of the interior, Ferrari has stripped out carpeting and created new monocoque bucket seats made from carbon fiber to save weight. Although they appear to be fixed, the seats are adjustable, relying on cleverly integrated elastic trim materials to maintain the fixed-back look. The center console also sports less material, and rather than leather or plastic it’s covered in a lovely matte-finished carbon fiber. The eight-speed transmission’s chrome gear selector has been moved forward on the center console, and the power window switches have been relocated further back. Only 799 SF90 XX Stradale coupes and only 599 SF90 XX Spiders will be made, and all are already spoken for. The coupe’s price is about $844,000 at current exchange rates. The Spider costs even more at around $932,000. Ferrari wouldn’t say how many of each would wind up in North America, but one thing is for certain: these will be collectible no matter where they end up.Managing Editor, Buyer’s GuideDrew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide variety of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial counselor to auto salesperson. He has dreamed of becoming a Car and Driver editor since he was 11 years old—a dream that was realized when he joined the staff in April 2016. He’s a born-and-raised Michigander and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and camper vans to sports cars and luxury SUVs.       More

This Mercedes 450SEL 6.9 is claimed to have finished second in the 1979 Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. The car shows 45,000 miles and benefits from a good bit of recent service.The auction ends on Sunday, July 2.Car and DriverFor a time, the Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 was the fastest sedan in the world. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that one would have ended up running the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. And now, your hard-earned scratch could put an (alleged) little slice of automotive-counterculture history in your garage.Bring a TrailerUp for auction on Bring a Trailer—which, like Car and Driver, is a part of the Hearst Autos group—is a 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 with an interesting pedigree. According to the seller, this car allegedly finished second in the final running of the Cannonball in 1979. There’s no paper trail to link it to such an achievement, but according to an account of the final race, a 6.9 did finish in second place, some eight minutes behind the winning Jaguar XJ-S.Regardless of the veracity of these claims, this isn’t the first time this specific 6.9 has crossed BaT’s virtual auction block. The car was posted in 2017, but the final bid of $26,000 failed to reach the reserve. Given how classic-car prices have reached the ionosphere over the last few years, we wouldn’t be surprised if the current go-around commands an even higher floor.6.9? Nice.Despite the 6.9 badge on the back, this 450SEL gets its motive force from a 6.8-liter V-8 that, when new, was good for 250 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque—numbers that were sufficient to push the big Benz to 140 mph in its day. Since this vehicle was acquired by its current owner in 2020, the eight-cylinder has picked up new gaskets and cooling-system components, in addition to a new battery and an air conditioning compressor. A three-speed automatic transmission handles the shifting, and it too has been serviced. The 6.9 also came equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension, and again it’s recently been attended to.Bring a TrailerThe 6.9’s black leather interior looks well maintained, although its factory Becker stereo is now hooked up to aftermarket speakers. Some work has been done in here since 2020 as well, including service on the vacuum-operated door locks and a freshening-up of the wood trim. The post notes that the cruise control doesn’t work, so hopefully your right foot still does.Senior EditorCars are Andrew Krok’s jam, along with boysenberry. After graduating with a degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, Andrew cut his teeth writing freelance magazine features, and now he has a decade of full-time review experience under his belt. A Chicagoan by birth, he has been a Detroit resident since 2015. Maybe one day he’ll do something about that half-finished engineering degree. More

This content is imported from youTube. 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.The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) just released a bleak report on the rear-seat safety of mid-size crew-cab pickup trucks. Among the Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma, none received the top “Good” rating.The updated test adds a dummy in the rear seat behind the driver in an effort to encourage automakers to improve rear-seat protection.The IIHS released updated crash-test results that show mid-size trucks struggle to protect rear-seat passengers in front-end collisions. In fact, of the five pickups tested, which include the Chevy Colorado, Ford Ranger, Jeep Gladiator, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma, none received the top “Good” rating from the test. An IIHS report last month showed similar results for compact passenger cars. IIHS safety ratings are broken down into four categories. The Good rating is the best available, followed by Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor. Of the five pickups, the Frontier did the best, earning an Acceptable rating. The Ranger followed with a Marginal rating, and the Colorado, Gladiator, and Tacoma all earned Poor ratings. The less-than-stellar ratings for the mid-size-truck segment stem from a lack of protection offered to rear occupants, as opposed to front-seat occupants. “A common problem was that the rear passenger dummy’s head came dangerously close to the front seatback, and in many cases, dummy measurements indicated a risk of neck or chest injuries,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “All these things tell us that the rear seat belts need improvement.”IIHSThe ratings also come on the heels of a more thorough test developed by the IIHS, which adds a dummy behind the driver’s seat. While the driver dummy is the size of an average adult man, the rear dummy is the size of a small woman or 12-year-old child. According to the IIHS report, researchers also developed new metrics that focus on the injuries most frequently seen in back-seat passengers.In the updated test, the Colorado, Frontier, Ranger, and Tacoma allowed the rear dummy’s head to come too close to the front seatback. The rear dummy in the Ranger did what the IIHS refers to as “submarining,” which causes the seatbelt to ride up from the pelvis to the abdomen, increasing the risk of internal injuries.According to the report, information taken from the rear dummy indicated a moderate or likely risk of both neck and chest injuries in the poor-rated Colorado, Gladiator, and Tacoma and a moderate risk of chest injuries in the marginal-rated Ranger. Associate News EditorJack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. More