Some model year changes are easier to spot than others. My tester this week was noticeably and starkly different from prior years upon even the slightest of glances. The 2021 BMW m440i xDrive Coupe is part of the completely redesigned 4-series.

Perhaps there has not been a better name for a rugged, strong, off-road package ever than “Tremor.”  The brand is part of Ford’s new brainchild to create an off-road package to rival Toyota’s TRD. Ford is adding Tremor packages to the F-150 and already has it on the Super Duty line.

In this era of so-called fake news and media bias, I try to remain unbiased when I get different vehicles to drive and write about. I’m supposed to tell it to you as I see it, without any preconceived notions.

It’s not very often I get a chance to test multiple variants of the same vehicle. It’s nice when I do, as it really gives me a better perspective on its possibilities. So, when I got seat time in the 2020 BMW 840i coupe and then the convertible, I was very excited.

When you review a lot of vehicles like I do, many start to blend together. So it’s nice when something stands out. It makes it worthy of being written about here at 95Octane, where our motto is “Cars That Don’t Suck.”

The word “rebel” has some deep-rooted placements in automotive history as well as film (RIP James Dean). And, if I do say so, it’s an awesome name for a trim of a vehicle that does its own thing and really sticks out with personality and excitement.

I’m the opposite of a trendsetter or even a trend-follower. Heck, I still wear flannel shirts as if Nirvana was about to top the charts again (if only). So, when I say that sporty SUVs and crossovers, are all the rage, you can rest assured that they still are in vogue.  

Looks are everything to so many people. When looking at cars, the aesthetics are what draw people in. I remember the first time I saw the BMW i8 Roadster. As journalists, we aren’t supposed to be so smitten and biased based simply on looks.

Many of the best bands of all time have great front men. And the best of them have stage presence, personality and showmanship. Well, if my review vehicle were a front man, it’d be Freddie Mercury.

Driving should be a fun experience. This includes SUVs and the families who drive them. Thank goodness Ford recognizes this and has introduced an ST trim for the 2020 Ford Explorer. The popular full-size SUV was turned over to Ford Performance who created a truly sporty version of this SUV for the first time starting in the 2020 model year.

Before we get too far into this review, a little transparency first. For the last year, I’ve been writing my second book – about the history of the Ford F-Series pickup. So when I got the 2019 version of America’s best-selling vehicle to drive, I was excited.

For the people in my neighborhood who don’t really know me or know what I do for a living, they’re already suspicious. This week, I’m sure the talk of Walter White or being some kind of drug dealer was whispered.

Even though it’s early in the model year, it will be tough to bump this vehicle off my favorite list for 2019. This week, I’m behind the wheel of the new Ram 1500, which won the North American Truck of the Year (NATOY) during the 2019 NAIAS in Detroit.

In the history of automotive advertising, the Kia Soul hamsters are legendary. The adorable human-sized hamsters that loved to party were the ideal way for Kia to launch this cute and quirky compact car. It showed a youth invasion was coming, and Kia was there to capture the next wave of drivers and car buyers.

It’s not often that one of the big talking points of a vehicle involves the sound system. But that’s exactly the case with the completely redesigned 2019 Acura RDX. Don’t get me wrong, the new look of this midsize SUV are stunning.