“It’s all over,” I said to myself. I was in the passenger seat of Lucid Air car number 17. Why 17? Because it’s the last two digits of the car’s VIN. It’s an early enough build the steering wheel is from a Cadillac CTS because Lucid hadn’t started making steering wheels when car 17’s chassis was built. John Culliton, the senior mechanical engineer of chassis and vehicle dynamics who was giving me some hot laps around Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, had finally stopped simply telling me about how the Air is on the track and stomped the throttle. We were just before the apex of turn 5, and John’s foot unleashed all 1,080 horsepower in the Air. “This is the end,” I thought. Not of my life—John’s pretty handy behind the w...
Appreciate the 2021 Acura TLX for its many strengths, but don’t dwell too much on the numbers. Because after spending some time with Acura’s sporty-looking new premium sedan, we see its value, even if not much of it shows up on the track. The TLX makes a good first impression—it’s priced closer to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but its wheelbase and length put it much closer to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. That makes it a bit of a tweener in our book. Does it deliver on its message? Some of our test team found the TLX’s handling splendid, but others felt the racy sheet metal was writing checks that its chassis couldn’t cash. Cars competing in the compact luxury sport sedan price category are asked to meet a near-impossible challenge: del...
Last month, Diplo turned heads as usual with the release of his ambient album, MMXX. That record now also serves as the soundtrack for a new project from Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (AirSpace), titled Under Ancient Skies. The album uses tracks from Diplo’s MMXX release, with accompaying narration by Hrishikesh Hirway of the Song Exploder podcast. It is broken down into 12 chapters that each explore the human connection with nature, from humanity’s first concepts of the universe all the way through to our modern understanding of life. Under Ancient Skies is both an educational and aural experience that aims to give listeners a better understanding of humanity’s explorations of the sky within Earth’s atmosphere and...
Every new truck debut ignites a war of numbers, with fans feverishly comparing horsepower, torque, hauling capability, and—who knows?—maybe cupholder counts. Ford released new information about the 2021 F-150 this week, and it promises to blow competitors out of the water when it comes to trucky metrics such as towing, horsepower, and more. That’s an ambitious claim, considering that since the last F-150 first went on sale, rivals haven’t been sitting still, instead pushing their trucks’ envelopes further and setting a higher bar. So, how will the 2021 Ford F-150 stack up against the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado? We’ve crunched the numbers so that you can gear up for truck debate class: See all 46 photos F-150 vs. Silverado vs. Ram 1500: Engines Ford was already...
The departure of our long-term 2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon just a few weeks ago was bittersweet. A lot has changed in my life—all of our lives, really—since the firetruck-red, black-topped four-door Wrangler long-termer showed up at MotorTrend‘s offices in July of 2019. Like the long-term Ram Power Wagon before it, I had big plans for our Wrangler; aside from driving and living with it everyday, I was going to take our Wrangler on epic, Jeep-appropriate overland expeditions across the American Southwest, with my wife and our two dogs, Brooklyn and Rex, in tow. For many reasons that didn’t happen. An endless stream of test vehicles (the very definition of a first-world problem, I know) from summer through fall delayed plans to go exploring Death Valley, o...
Back at the beginning of the pandemic, guitar manufacturer Fender kicked off a promotion that offered guitar, bass, and ukulele players three months of free lessons on their Fender Play app. The giveaway was initially supposed to run for six three, but it was such a huge hit that the company is extending it through the end of 2020. “When quarantine began, we invited the world to make some noise with free access to Fender Play. Six months in, the world is louder than ever — and music still has the power to connect us all,” Fender said in a press release. “So until 2020 is over, our invitation is back, 3 months of free online guitar, bass and ukulele lessons. No cost. No catch. Just music. Let’s play on through to the other side.” It might seem a little peculiar for a business to be giving a...
There are some big question marks over Christmas this year, as office parties and group gatherings aren’t on the cards, and restrictions will potentially impact plans for the actual day. December is usually a time for back-to-back parties, but after a difficult year, family and friends will be the most important thing about Christmas for many this year. It might be difficult to plan anything in 2020, but one thing we can start thinking about is our Christmas Day outfits. Whether you’ll be celebrating with Zoom calls or at home, the below ensembles will make you feel a little special, whatever you have planned. People have very different ideas about what a Christmas Day outfit should look like. Some dress up in silks and sequins, while others have a strict “pj...
While we never could have predicted it, in 2020 one of the most important accessories to own is, undeniably, a face mask. The item is a must-have, and whether you’re a celebrity or a style star, it’s something we are all adding to our wardrobe rotations. Masks have become ubiquitous over the last few months and are now mandatory in many places across the UK. While we have all become accustomed to seeing a sea of disposable blue surgical face masks each time we step outside or head to the supermarket, several high street retailers are now making their own iterations, providing a reusable and therefore more sustainable solution. From Mango to Topshop, brands across the board have stepped in to create their own machine washable cloth face masks, in an array of colo...
Genesis really needs a second SUV to compete in today’s crossover-obsessed world. Fortunately, that SUV appears to be right around the corner. Today, Genesis revealed the GV70 in camouflaged form. The SUV is expected to arrive here in the U.S. for the 2022 model year. Peering beneath the camo, we can tell the Genesis GV70 takes inspiration from the larger GV80‘s headlights and taillights. While the shape of the grille is familiar, the mug features a unique black mesh pattern, at least on this version. Starfish-like black wheels finish off the look. See all 21 photos Genesis has begun testing the camouflaged GV70 on public roads in Korea. For the next month, motorists can scan a QR code on the vehicle’s wrap to learn more about the unique camo. At this point, Genesis isn...
Forgive us for engaging in maieutics right off the bat—doing as Greek philosopher Socrates did by answering a question with further questions—but that’s how these things go. There is no single answer for everyone. Wisdom cannot be taught, only learned. So, if your pressing question has to do with vehicle drivelines and whether all-wheel drive (AWD), front-wheel drive (FWD), or rear-wheel drive (RWD) is best, we suggest you first look deep within and ask yourself a few more questions. First, are you simply seeking a transportation appliance that promises the greatest safety, economy, and practicality? Are you a driving enthusiast who finds joy in driving and is looking to form an emotional bond with their vehicle? How do you feel about off-roading, or acquiring and maintaining a ...
The fashion world loves to make up words, typically for the purpose of describing some new and previously unnamed sartorial hybrid—think shackets, bradigans, and skorts. That’s a motley crew if we ever saw one. Well, we’ve got another one to add to your mental fashion dictionary, and that’s the “coatigan.” Not unlike the shacket, the coatigan sits midway between two much-loved wardrobe staples: the cardigan and the coat. Odd though it may sound, we’ve discovered that it’s actually a pretty smart solution to autumn’s not-quite-hot-not-quite-cold temperatures. We’ve seen our fair share of cardigans masquerading as coats, but this season’s offerings are far superior. Why? Well, it’s all about fabric. Previous ite...
Today marks the beginning of Black History Month in the UK. Following the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests, it’s vital that we celebrate the Black community in the UK. While we’re not here to give you a history lesson (although you can go donate and support The Black Curriculum which addresses the lack of Black British history in the UK Curriculum), we can do what we know: support and celebrate the best Black-owned British fashion and beauty brands. Shop now or bookmark for later. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photo...