In what’s most likely one of many greatest understatements of all time, issues weren’t regular this 12 months within the automobile world or wherever. Automotive exhibits went out the window, as did press drives throughout the nation and the world. However all of the weirdness makes us all of the extra grateful for what we did get. The automobile information stored coming, a few of it extraordinarily thrilling, like a brand new Bronco, an electrical Hummer and far more. And we nonetheless received to drive vehicles and convey you alongside for the rides. And consistent with the spirit of the week, we needed to share the vehicles we have been most grateful to take for a spin this 12 months.
Affiliate Editor Byron Hurd: This one’s a no brainer for me. My nod goes to the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350. I drove some vehicles that have been objectively superior and a few that have been way more important to {the marketplace}, however none that felt fairly this particular. 2020 was the ultimate mannequin 12 months for the GT350, which supplies manner in 2021 to the revived Mach 1. Getting an opportunity to pattern this gem of a pony automobile in its sundown 12 months was a uncommon privilege, and I might encourage you to do the identical ought to the chance come up.
West Coast Editor James Riswick: This selection is not a lot the automobile, however the place I drove it. When in search of an acceptable drive route and story for the Porsche 718 GT4, I made a decision on driving from Portland to Detroit … Oregon. It might make for a enjoyable headline and I had learn that the scenic path to the little lake-side city of Detroit by the Mt. Hood Nationwide Forest was the most effective driving roads within the state. It was certainly and though I did not keep lengthy, the city was cute and I seemed ahead to coming again. 4 months later, the city of Detroit was lowered to ashes. So too was a lot of the forest you see within the pictures above. That is what Detroit appears like now. I am grateful I received to make that drive in an appropriately good automobile once I did.
Street Take a look at Editor Zac Palmer: I by no means had the privilege of driving a Lotus earlier than 2020. Boy was I lacking out. The tiny British firm out of Hethel is aware of what it’s doing. Lotus vehicles are uncommon. Not many are offered, and there are so few fashions that we don’t usually get to drive new ones. So, thanks to Lotus for popping out with the Evora GT this 12 months. I can’t evaluate this iteration to the Evoras that got here earlier than it, however I do know for a indisputable fact that the Evora GT is totally good.
In a sports activities automobile world filled with high-tech gizmos and digital doodads, the Evora GT is a deep breath of contemporary air. Many people get into the automobile interest as a result of we love the act of driving. Electronics and tech can generally detract from the simplistic connection between the motive force and the automobile. Nevertheless, new automobile tech may make the drive extra gratifying, assuming it’s utilized with function and in pursuit of a greater driving expertise. The Evora is the very best instance of a sprinkling of recent automobile know-how being utilized to reinforce an old-school driving expertise.
From a driver’s perspective, I had extra enjoyable driving the Evora GT than I did some other automobile this 12 months. And sure, that listing contains the brand new 2020 Corvette and quite a few Porsche 911s. The Lotus is a reminder that despite the fact that producers’ electrics do an unbelievable job of tricking our brains, there are nonetheless no replacements for issues like hydraulic steering, actual exhaust noise and a chic handbook transmission. Driving the Evora GT is like hitting a reset button. It’s the closest you will get to pure driving nirvana in 2020. And for the chance to expertise that, I’m very, very grateful.
Information Editor Joel Stocksdale: If you happen to’ve been studying Autoblog for just a few years now, you could have picked up on the trace that I’ve a smooth spot for the VW Beetle, and an enormous a part of that’s due to my lifelong love of, nicely, The Love Bug‘s Herbie, a 1963 Beetle. And this 12 months I received about as near driving that automobile as I’ve ever been when Volkswagen despatched out its 1964 mannequin from its assortment for me to take for a spin. Thankfully, it was hero to fulfill, showcasing how charming such a easy little automobile might be. To be fully trustworthy, I believe I desire the dealing with and energy of later Tremendous Beetles just like the convertible I drove in L.A. final 12 months, however the ’64 was fairly a little bit of enjoyable. And naturally, the timing was excellent since I had only recently bought a 2013 Beetle Turbo of my very own that I might evaluate it with. So I am actually grateful that I received to satisfy a pair desires of mine this 12 months: driving a hero automobile, and shopping for its descendant.
Contributing Editor Joe Lorio: I used to be lucky to drive some very cool and fascinating vehicles this 12 months. One which stands out particularly was the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster. This bright-blue magnificence is a sight to behold and with its Connolly leather-based inside, is an olfactory delight as nicely. Its 503-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, courtesy of Mercedes-AMG, delivers critical, silken thrust. And the chassis felt ideally tuned for a blast up New York’s Taconic State Parkway into rural jap Dutchess County. The truth that it was simply heat sufficient for top-down journey was an extra tonic, as an extended afternoon behind the wheel of the Vantage proved to be an ideal escape from the nationwide information within the tense days of early November. Aston, take me away.
Senior Editor, Inexperienced, John Beltz Snyder: It was a rewarding 12 months, however it all the time is when your job entails driving a mess of vehicles. There have been some memorable ones in 2020: the Chevy Corvette Convertible, Bentley Flying Spur, Genesis G80 and a 1967 VW Samba Bus, amongst others. The automobile I’m actually grateful I drove, although, is the Polestar 2. I preferred it even higher than the extra unique Polestar 1. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea — particularly Tesla diehards’ — however it positive is mine. I just like the design, the supplies, the distinctive prospers sprinkled all through and, in fact, the efficiency from the electrical powertrain. This muscular EV is a beast with a straightaway in entrance of it, and simply as competent carving corners. On prime of that, it makes use of the brand new Android Automotive Operating System, which makes the infotainment system each good and simple to make use of. The Polestar 2 is contemporary pondering embodied in automobile type, and I can’t wait to drive it once more.
Shopper Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski: The 2 most memorable autos I drove over the past 11 months have been each manufacturing unit off-roaders from FCA: The Jeep Gladiator Mojave and the Ram 1500 TRX. Each are a blast to drive throughout rugged terrain at speeds that may trigger weaker autos to crumble or spiral uncontrolled. I will focus particularly on the TRX for this story, however for a totally totally different cause. As I recommended in our First Drive writeup, it is onerous to think about easy methods to transfer the needle any additional than it already has, however actually that is overlooking one necessary improvement: batteries. As a result of as superior as 702 horsepower is (and it actually may be very superior), to me personally — and your mileage will clearly range, actually and figuratively — a dozen miles per gallon is not simply abysmal, it is irresponsible.
And so I am actually wanting ahead to the upcoming electrification of the pickup truck, from the likes of Ford, Hummer, Rivian and Tesla (although I will admit to worrying that a few of these vehicles will likely be delayed). How lengthy will it take for Ford to affect a Raptor? I do not know, however I am unable to wait to seek out out.
