Vincent Nguyen - SlashGear

2017 Porsche Panamera 4S and turbo: Every techie’s dream car

Vincent Nguyen | Jul 6, 2016

For Porsche, unveiling the new Panamera isn’t just about replacing one of its best-selling models, it also ushers in a whole new era for the automaker. When Porsche launched the Panamera four-door sedan back in 2009, it was a couple of years before I had kids. Though anything is possible, to my mind it was unimaginable that you could make a four-door version of the 928, the car that was to me - next to the 911 - the heart and soul of Porsche. After the initial shock, I never really gave it much thought.

2018 Audi A5 and S5 First Drive – Gran Tourismo inspired coupe

Vincent Nguyen | Jun 23, 2016

As decisions go, opting for the newly redesigned 2018 Audi A5 or its hotter S5 sibling is a good problem to have. This past week, I had the opportunity to experience both vehicles in Portugal and walked away impressed with the refined styling, performance, and handling. Much of the improvement can be credited to the same MLB Evo architecture first introduced in the 2017 Audi A4, not least a weight reduction of up to roughly 100 pounds for the US car, not to mention a drag coefficient cut to 0.25 for the base A5 model. Still, the second-gen A5 and S5 don’t go lacking in Audi’s typically meticulous evolutionary changes.

All-new 2017 GMC Acadia first drive – puts all midsize SUVs on notice

Vincent Nguyen | Jun 3, 2016

Hey, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Honda, Audi, and yes even Cadillac: GMC’s out to eat your lunch with the all-new 2017 Acadia. Targeting a wider group of buyers that spans the everyman through to thrill seekers and those looking for a premium experience without paying out for a luxury brand. GMC also went as far as taking aim at Jeep’s Grand Cherokee with the five-seat, All Terrain version of the Acadia. Question is, with such big plans and broad ambitions, can GMC succeed?

2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet and 4S first drive

Vincent Nguyen | Jun 3, 2016

The Porsche 911 is not the car for everyone, whether it’s the design or the price, but Porsche is okay with that. A mainstay of the sports segment for decades, it’s the benchmark by which serious drivers - and the automakers trying to sell them similarly seriously-driving cars - judge on-road experience. That means big boots to fill when it comes to a new model, something Porsche knows all too well as it launches the 2017 Carrera S Cabriolet and Carrera 4S Coupe.

2017 Audi A4 Review

Vincent Nguyen | May 10, 2016

Classic design ages gracefully, but the 2017 Audi A4 hides its technological prowess under a body that's evolutionary rather than revolutionary. The latest version of the German company's compact executive sedan may look a whole lot like the outgoing model, but to my mind that's the beauty of it: unlike some rivals, change hasn't been made for its own sake.

My Days of Thunder with the 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus

Vincent Nguyen | Apr 12, 2016

Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder left a long-lasting impression. That was 1990 when I was a young lad of 14. Fast forward to the present day and I survived my own day of thunder at the Daytona International Speedway, driving the 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus at ridiculous speeds and – through a combination of car and maybe luck - living to tell the tale.

2016 BMW M2 First Drive: A future classic

Vincent Nguyen | Feb 18, 2016

Ten years from now, looking back, I honestly believe I'll be able to say I got to break in a future classic. When the sheet came off the BMW M2 in Detroit last month, you could hear the collective, hopeful whispers from fans of the German company's tuning house: please, let it be another 1 Series M Coupe. Turns out, it's even better.

The Road to Daytona Rolex 24 in Audi’s RS7 Performance and S8 Plus

Vincent Nguyen | Feb 17, 2016

From the moment I got to the airport, and was handed the keys to a brand new Audi RS7 Performance, I knew this was no ordinary media drive program. This drool-worthy beast is now powered by a massive 605 HP, 553 lb-ft. of torque engine; for those keeping score, that’s 85 more horsepower than the standard V8, and an additional 73 lb-ft available via overboost. It certainly set the tone for what was to be an unforgettable few days leading to Rolex 24 at Daytona.

On the track with Toyota’s crazy Camaro-killing R-Tuned minivan

Vincent Nguyen | Feb 9, 2016

This family hauler, tuned by Toyota Technical Center in collaboration with championship-winning performance shop DG-Spec accomplished a super fast lap time of 1:27 which is on par with some of highest performance sports car available at the Streets of Willow Springs.

Panasonic Premium Audio System and Advanced Cockpit 2020 Experience at CES 2016

Vincent Nguyen | Jan 14, 2016

Panasonic Advanced Cockpit 2020

You might associate Panasonic with TVs, but the company had a lot more than that to showcase at CES 2016, and one of my favorites was the Advanced Cockpit 2020, aka “the buck”. A car interior divorced from its external shell, the buck is an uber-tech-packed concept of what the inside of future vehicles will look like.

Faraday Future FFZERO1 concept teases modular EV car

Vincent Nguyen | Jan 4, 2016

Faraday Future has officially revealed its FFZERO1 concept car, bringing a 1,000 HP supercar to CES 2016 in order to debut its modular powertrain. The startup didn't waste time on hyperbole, either, in a press conference high on promises but low on specifics.

New 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class interior raises the bar

Vincent Nguyen | Dec 28, 2015

There were a lot of loaded, descriptive words thrown out during Mercedes-Benz's intimate press conference describing the new E-Class. "Luxury", "simplicity", "experience", "high-tech", "beauty"… all of which tie into a hard division between two categories: emotion and intelligence, the yin and yang if you will of the automaker's latest view on what a high-end sedan should be.

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