Author Archives: Vincent Nguyen

Technically speaking, my first drive of the all-new, fully electric 2019 Audi e-tron never saw its cutting-edge electronically controlled all-wheel drive system touch a public road in Namibia, South Africa. The all-electric SUV isn't due to reach US roads until next year, but when Audi asked us if we wanted to put its new EV quattro system through its paces well in advance, we didn't turn the automaker down. Turns out, while the new e-tron may not quite be ready for release, that doesn't mean it's not up for some seriously silly drifting.

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The Bugatti Chiron is the holy grail of hyper-fast production cars. At the vanguard of engineering and design, it's a big car with big numbers. It also comes with an astronomical price tag: $2.98M before you start piling on any options. Now, $3 million is a lot of money - even for folks with the financial means to even consider a Bugatti in the first place - but the price is an indication of the performance, top speed, and general refinement of the Chiron. It is a ridiculous car that transcends boundaries.

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In an industry obsessed with acronyms, you can credit the BMW X5 as being the first-ever SAV, or Sport Activity Vehicle. Back in 1999, people were left scratching their heads to discern the differences between an SAV and SUV. Fast forward to today, and the new 2019 BMW X5 is still an SAV to the core, but it's certainly all grown up now. Larger, and more practical, the promise is up to seven seats of family convenience but without sacrificing the driving feel that the X5 has always been known for.

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Coupe life can be fun but rarely practical: if you love the Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe, but need more space to transport friends, family, or sports equipment, the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe may well fit the bill. While you may or may not be down with the recent trend of calling cars with four doors "coupes," there's one thing I found you can't argue with. Somehow - with the help of the base model GT 53 4-Door Coupe - Mercedes-AMG has managed to make some of the most practical, yet outrageous, sports sedans that money can buy.

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With the 2019 Audi e-tron, the all-electric SUV category enters the big leagues. Launching in the US midway through next year, the new five-seater promises the Audi style and luxury we're familiar with from the Q5 and Q7, along with the off-roading abilities, but with zero emissions along the way.

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Five days, three continents, and four cities: Munich, New York, San Francisco, and Beijing. It may sound like the itinerary of a famous rock band’s world tour, but it’s actually something even more exclusive. BMW's integrated its newest concept car into a jet, and set off on the iNEXT World Flight to preview its vision of the next generation of electric vehicles.

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The Kia Telluride SUV concept was first revealed at the 2016 North American International Auto Show, and now Kia is previewing the 2020 production model due early next year with another play on the eight-seater. The new, full-size SUV gets the magic touch of fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, in fact, with a Texas-inspired runway collection at the New York Fashion Week 2018.

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It's not a coupe, and it's not a sedan, but the 2019 Audi RS 5 Sportback absolutely is mesmerizing. Audi Sport's latest blend of performance and luxury takes on the BMW 650i and the Mercedes-Benz CLS 550, not to mention putting the V8-powered Mercedes AMG C63 S sedan in its crosshairs, too. At this stage of the game it's not enough to be simply fast, or pretty. You have to be distinctive.

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Third new model in the British car company's Second Century Plan, the 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Super GT is arguably the most striking so far. Aston's goal of introducing seven new models in a span of just seven years is no small challenge, and when you're replacing the much-loved Vanquish - not to mention aiming to lock heads with the Ferrari 812 Superfast and Bentley Continental GT - everything must be pitch-perfect.

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You never forget your first AMG. Even just hearing the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine firing up for the first time, under the bulging hood of what was in 2015 the all-new Mercedes-AMG C63 S, I was instantly in love. That's why I’m totally fine with Mercedes-AMG keeping the same engine in this model year 2019 AMG C63 S mid-cycle refresh, though that's not to say Mercedes' fearsome tuners have slept on the rest of the car.

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There are plenty of issues with being a frequent traveler, but finding the right bag can be one of the most frustrating - and lead to one of the biggest addictions. Packing for multiple trips, especially back-to-back, can be a challenge, especially when they can vary due to climate, the type of event you'll be attending, and factoring in specific equipment. In short, deciding what to pack is just as important as figuring out what you're going to pack it all in.

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The 2019 Jaguar I-PACE all-electric SUV is finally here. Contrary to what others might say, the I-PACE is not primarily designed and engineered to dethrone the capacious Tesla Model X. Instead, Jaguar’s first fully-electric car will stay true to the old Jaguar credo of space, pace, and grace, only now the ‘pace’ part is motivated, not by a supercharged V8, but by a pair of powerful electric motors.

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