The History of the BMW M Coupe (the “Clown Shoe”)

BMW M Coupe history

In the late 1990s, BMW’s M division, known for creating high-performance versions of the brand’s vehicles, started a project that would ultimately result in one of the most unique sports cars of its time: the BMW M Coupe. Born from the desire to combine the agility of a roadster with … Read more

Are Car Dealerships Open on New Year’s Day?

cars in showroom

The calendar year is officially drawing to a close and that means one thing: year end car deals can be had. Why such an emphasis on pushing more metal out of dealer showrooms at this time of the year? Bragging rights, mostly. Auto industry executives are seeking to demonstrate to … Read more

7 Highlights of the 2020 BMW X1

2020 BMW X1 overview

Is it a small SUV or a tall hatchback? One look at the BMW X1 may not make it clear what this vehicle is, but as far as BMW is concerned, the X1 represents this manufacturer’s smallest utility vehicle. You’re forgiven if you beg to differ. BMW introduced the X1 … Read more

2013 Cars and Coffee: Waverly Place in Cary, NC

cars coffee waverly place 2013

If you are looking for an informal meetup of car enthusiasts, then a Cars and Coffee event is the place to go. This past Sat., I happened upon the local gathering in Cary, NC, featuring more than 100 vintage, classic, exotic, Asian, European and American models. Cars and Coffee Cars … Read more

Automotive Branding: Are Sub-Brands the Way to Go?

2014 BMW i3

Featured Image: The BMW i3 launches the “i” sub-brand. Ask what should seem to be a fairly straightforward question and you would hope for similarly worded answers. That wasn’t the case when I made a query to auto industry and public relations professionals about branding. That query asked: Are sub-brands … Read more

The History of the BMW Z8

2002 BMW Z8 silver

With its sleek, retro-inspired design, the BMW Z8 captured the classic roadster charm of the 50s while delivering modern performance. It was aimed at evoking the classic appeal of the 1950s BMW 507, and, thanks to the design team led by Chris Bangle and Henrik Fisker (who’d go on to … Read more

Heated Seat Subscriptions and Other Tomfoolery

heated seats buttons

Car manufacturers are pushing subscriptions on buyers to bolster their bottom lines. If automakers have their way, you may soon pay a monthly charge for heated seats, remote start, infotainment system connectivity, and a host of other features or services included in the upfront price. Yes, tomfoolery abounds in an … Read more

2014 Mini Cooper S Review

2014 Mini Cooper S

Small car…big fun! A Mini Cooper S will all the trimmings. Ah, Mini! You stole my heart and in more than one way. Your iconic, good looks are what caught my eyes and, yes, I managed to put up with the decaling found on the side mirrors, along the doors … Read more

2014 Hyundai Equus Ultimate Review

2014 Hyundai Equus

The Hyundai Equus is the top-of-the-line model in this Korean brands arsenal, a true-blue full-size luxury sedan that is in the same class as the Lexus LS, Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. It retails for about $10,000 less than the Lexus and comes in at a … Read more