We’re staying in the habit of posting less frequently on a bi-weekly basis like I outlined previously, so I can build up enough of an arsenal to release on a more regular schedule to my heart’s content and to the pleasure of you readers. That doesn’t mean however, that I haven’t stopped thinking about cars twenty-four seven.

And it also doesn’t mean that I don’t recognize Mazda’s contribution to society. It may not be the automotive giant today like Toyota and Honda but in the 1960s, it was well established. I’d covered the R360 before in a previous post regarding the car’s diminutive size, but there’s more to it than that.

Prior to cars, Mazda manufactured corks. So the pressure was on for the company to release its first device of transportation with four wheels. In turn, what followed was the best case scenario. When it launched on May 28, 1960, more than 4,500 people placed an order for one. Before the year ended, Mazda managed to sell over 23,000 R360s.

That’s a lot when you realize that the kei car was still a new idea to the Japanese population. The decade before was spent trying to figure out how to build cars, as well as rebuild the nation post-war. Minerals and materials were scarce so the objective was to give the local residents what they need without running dry. So the public response to the R360 was a BFD.

In fact, the Mazda R360 was the most popular car for most of the sixties until the Toyota Corolla came along. By production’s end, the tally neared 66k, making it relatively easy to find as a classic.

So why? One can guess it was the fact that Mazda managed to squeeze four seats into a shoe. Or that it was too cute to reject. Or maybe that there wasn’t that many kei cars choose from back then. Whatever the reason, it put Mazda on the map as a rotary powerhouse for decades to come.

It’s never been the case that Mazda wasn’t unpopular. It’s merely that other carmakers simply outpaced it in terms of resources, marketing, and appeal; leaving it to win hearts of those who dared give it a chance. A unique approach of getting from Point A to B that stands today with the Miata and the ‘Zoom-zoom’ philosophy.

Right now though, the R360 lives in my head rent free on account of its cutesy charisma that has me wondering if I need more car, even if it will only do 56 mph.

There’s nothing wrong with a need to slow down sometimes.

-TA

Author’s note: Want to become an early adopter of Sped? Subscribe to Patreon while I work on providing exclusive benefits which will soon include bonus content and other perks. Thank you! -TA

There’s a right way to sell cars as well as the wrong way. In my years-long excursion in the field, I found this comes down to the dealership. Market conditions often dictate selling terms that reflect on the consumer. It’s not so often that it affects the industry.

Ongoing volatile efforts by the U.S. to control the Strait of Hormuz has had an unprecedented effect on manufacturers and their approach to get cars in people’s hands. With oil prices in flux, EV demand has risen for some while popularity has fallen for others, prompting action depending on who’s who. We’ll get into that here.

Naturally, the most substantial news of the week make the cut. Welcome to the July 25 edition of Vibe Check.

1st Shift: Cadillac Extends A Lifeline

After a focal shift to EVs, Cadillac is reversing an earlier decision to phase out two gas-fed SUVs, instead preparing a launch date for 2027 with new generation designs. This is telling as the brand has no fewer than four battery electric offerings that are SUVs.

Despite rising oil prices, the expiration of the federal tax rebate last year is the culprit. For a time, EV sales cratered while cars powered by conventional means got a boost in popularity, with hybrids splitting the difference. In light of the Iran conflict, the tide is turning back toward the favor of EVs but ever so slightly.

Cadillac phased out U.S. production of the family-oriented XT6 in 2025 while the XT5 has chugged along largely unchanged since 2016. Bringing them back won’t set the world on fire because actually, the two are doing quite well in China.

Over there is a new XT5 over there that is quite snazzy to look at. Meanwhile, the XT6 received tech updates. It wouldn’t take a teutonic effort to bring both back to American roads.

2nd Shift: Nissan Gives The Green Sports Car A Price

The most beautiful car painted in green has been given a price and it’s a nice one. The Nissan Z is cheaper than the Toyota Supra, Ford Mustang GT, BMW M240i; with the Sport version commanding $45,775. Shinkai Green Pearl metallic paint is an $895 premium and worth every penny to look at.

Even the cheapest Z has a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V-6 that you can get with a six-speed manual transmission in today’s increasingly auto-only market. There’s also the NISMO edition but the sweet spot sits in the middle with the Z Performance pack, which adds a slew of mechanical upgrades in addition to aching beauty.

Even better, the price remains reasonable. Including the green paint, Nissan asks $56,670 which is comparable to a Mustang GT with the High Premium package. So go over to the Nissan live configurator and dream high, dammit.

3rd Shift: Corvette Value Goes Up A Notch

Chevrolet doesn’t have an EV problem, not with the Corvette anyway. Even as a hybrid, it’s an American performance icon that is propelled by prestige and power. So for 2027, Chevrolet decided to up to ante.

The Corvette Stingray now uses a 6.7-liter V-8 codenamed LS6. It makes 535 horsepower and 520 lb-ft of torque, enough to cement the Vette as a 200-mph supercar. And the price? $73,495, or the middling cost for a new Tahoe.

I have no notes. The mid-engine Corvette has been a darling of engineering feats since it debuted at the beginning of this decade. It will take a book and a half to break down why, or you can build one yourself and see why.

Weekend Getaway: Love What You Have

I’d been under the weather this week, it’s a lot of fun. But what’s actually been fun is knocking out some TLC on a 1998 Ford Explorer Sport with two doors and a five-speed.

Amazingly, it’s in great mechanical shape thanks to the prior owner. The remaining work needed to keep it in more than decent condition is cosmetic. Things like tightening the screw on a loose fender, replacing the taillight bulb, applying WD-40 on the rear window latch so it can open like new, and so on.

All of which is to say that I question the need for a new car. My Miata is about to be paid in full and the Explorer continues to be a comfortable asset after 171,000 miles. I look forward to exercising its usefulness to the Sped audience.

-TA

Author’s note: Want to become an early adopter of Sped? Subscribe to Patreon while I work on providing exclusive benefits which will soon include bonus content and other perks. Thank you! -TA

It’s a fair assumption that the French has a contrarian approach to vehicular design than most countries because it’s true. I could probably churn out a dedicated series that focuses solely on Gallic automotive innovation and the reasoning logic that followed.

The focus on today’s Quick Jump comes in handy if you accidentally have a quick bump. You may just have to deal with the consequence of being unable to access your trunk before resorting to a hammer to pry it open.

Should you find yourself in this scenario, let me point out the pickle:

That is rear impact protection bolted into the trunk lid, itself a flimsy piece of metal that doesn’t serve much of a barrier to cushion from the distracted driver that could hit you from behind. Weather stripping and door hinges don’t do much to guard you from the inevitable. The crumple zone is the luggage you wish you threw in for safety’s sake.

An oversight in 1970s bumper design, it deviated from the norm of superior crash protection. The U.S. was coming out with mandatory 5-mph rubberized bumper protection with the notion to get you out of the smallest of fender benders, minimizing damage without affecting the overall structure of the vehicle.

Safety boards overseas adopted this remedy to some degree, even allowing a controversial vehicle like the Citroën GS to have its moment in the sun.

Doesn’t that look so inviting for a dead body—I mean, five-piece luggage set? Not only do you have better ingress and egress, but that euphoric feeling that your loved ones are better protected including the inanimate.

Eventually, the 5-mph bumpers were replaced by the plastic composite mold you see on cars today. But I’m surprised that a population as innovative as the French would allow early crash protection of the Citroën GS to pass muster. Case in point when I was doing a brisk deep dive on rear appliqués, this came up:

That is not A.I. rendering art for giggles, it’s tricolor engineering on acid. Feats like this used to be typical. The more I think about it, the more likely I’ll introduce some form of miniseries on the bonkers imagination that Parisians gave to the world.

All in due time.

-TA

Author’s note: Want to become an early adopter of Sped? Subscribe to Patreon while I work on providing exclusive benefits which will soon include bonus content and other perks. Thank you! -TA

An article went live this past weekend proclaiming the Ford Maverick as the Perfect First Car, with its author noting a caveat that he is just presenting one view on the topic going as far as to say everyone has a different idea to go about it.

“Taste, geography, and budget, among a million other factors,” he notes in the opening paragraph. The article then strays from the point to morph into a shill ad for the vehicle he bought when the beauty of first cars was summed up so quickly, so beautifully.

Don’t get me wrong, the Ford Maverick is a fine automobile that is remarkably versatile as a pickup. In addition to its practicality, you can opt for greater performance in either hybrid or street-truck forms, going wild with the accessories. But is this going to matter to the teenager who’ll eventually hoon it? They’re going to drive it however they like, no matter the vehicle.

And that’s precisely the point. It’s whatever they want it to be. Not what it was designed to be. Teenagers are remarkably indiscriminate when it comes to transportation when their parents are the ones with the checkbook.

I want a Lexus LFA but my first car was a 2007 Honda Accord, bought on the night we learned I was accepted to my preferred college. For at least five years, my entire life could fit in the back of it with the seats down as I shuffled between dorms and apartments. On some days, it was an Autobahn cruiser when I traveled with my pack of fellow enthusiasts at an unspecified speed. Some days, it followed a convoy of naturalists off the beaten path to track Golden Eagles and mark nest locations. Some days, it faced black ice and was mostly successful against loss of control.

Eventually, the consequence of going to college in upstate New York caught up with the Accord, with salt rusting out the rear suspension to the point of making nonchalant braking a shaky situation every time. 180k miles, it was time to trade it in as the world opened up post pandemic. Hello, new Miata.

Although bought with my money, I never pigeonholed its usefulness. The beauty of an MX-5 lies in its dual purpose as a daily commuter or a high-revving sports car dependent of mood. There’s no off switch, falling at the discretion of the driver.

The discretion of the driver means I would later find out it can squeeze 16 pizzas when delivering to the local Boys and Girls Club. The bigger surprise is that when I don’t carry a lead foot, the extremely tall sixth gear means spectacular fuel economy that hovers in the forties and fifties. When taking in account headrest speakers for open-roof comfort, what more do you need?

So the Miata is another kind of supercar, one that isn’t limited to its original purpose but can adapt to what you throw at it. Eventually you’ll be able to use it as a Ford Maverick.

Any first car is what you decide to make of it beyond the scope of design. So let your imagination run free.

-TA

Author’s note: Want to become an early adopter of Sped? Subscribe to Patreon while I work on providing exclusive benefits which will soon include bonus content and other perks. Thank you! -TA

For the moment, the Tesla Model Y carries a sticker of $39,990 before taxes and relevant fees. That nets you 321 miles of driving range and the ability to seat 5 people in comfort. As for features, that’s a different story.

See, this is the base form of the Model Y. Tesla released a less expensive version of the bestselling coupe SUV this year, carrying a shorter roster of equipment to go with its cheapened appearance.

The version that most people buy normally looks like this:

Tesla updated the Model Y for 2026, giving it a Cybertruck-esque makeover to better resemble the catastrophic failure that is the Cybertruck. To make it more affordable, it decided to apply a massive price cut to it and the Model 3, resulting in a $5k-$6k discount.

Among other things like a smaller speaker count and ditching the leather, there’s one thing I can’t help but notice. You see, this is what the base Model Y looks like:

And here it is from the inside:

What’s wrong with this picture? Well, the Tesla Model Y comes included with a glass roof. Only you have to upgrade to see through it.

Normally, the way to delete the sunroof option is to fill the gap with more metal. I’ve never seen it played the other way around where you fill the space with more ceiling carpet. What’s strange is that the Model 3 sedan gets a similar deleting effect of features, yet the glass roof remains as intended for the vehicle’s occupants to catch some Vitamin D.

Not to intend the pun, but this just feels like a waste of space. I have a hard time believing that applying a fabric sunshade is a cost-effective measure to save money if the aim was to keep the price down. From a production standpoint, I would think it would be cheaper to apply transparency access to all Model Ys rather than cover it up for the select few who actually buy it.

Anyway, the more you know, the better you can avoid buying the wrong Tesla. If this is the route you go, save a few grand for a better driving car and get a Model 3.

-TA

Author’s note: Want to become an early adopter of Sped? Subscribe to Patreon while I work on providing exclusive benefits which will soon include bonus content and other perks. Thank you! -TA

We’re going to play a game. I’m going to tell you where that number came from and you are going to guess what I pick as the best new car in 2026 falling under that threshold. You can cheat and scroll to the end but then you’d miss out on this week’s barrage of news.

Of course, the most noteworthy make the cut. Welcome to the July 18 edition of Vibe Check.

1st Shift: The ‘Keating Line’ offers a glimmer of hope for new cars

For several years now, the average transaction price for a new car has hovered close to $50k. This past June is no exception as Automotive News reports a $49,336 median purchase accounting for all new cars. Or does it?

Its writer, Erin Keating, is an analyst on the topic of market performance and claims that is not the whole story. That $49k accounts for luxury vehicles, EVs, and pickup trucks costing far more. The glut of less expensive offerings is what keeps it down.

Keating notes that the largest concentration of available models remains below $40,000, making up a third of the national inventory ready to take home. Vehicles priced between $30-$40k clocked 28 percent of all U.S. sales for the month of June.

Here the average listing price was $35,377, a far more reasonable number to swallow. Even better, you won’t find yourself driving something second-rate thanks to generational refinement. The latest generations of normcore models from brands such as Honda are peaking right now when it comes to features, comfort, and performance, making it harder to justify spending more.

The definition of ‘cheap and cheerful’ may be stretching a little but it too has been affected by inflation. I’ll still keep you guessing on my pick for less than $35,377.

2nd Shift: Big Altima Energy is definitely dead, probably

Nissan’s financial situation is in flux. That extends to the fate of its offerings, with one seemingly finally ready to give up the ghost after being given a lifeline.

The Altima launched in the early 1990s to compete for sedan dominance against the Honda Accord. Later on, it began to pick up a reputation as a cheap asset for bad financing and the consumers who drove them until the wheels fell off, only to rinse and repeat. Battered survivors lurking U.S. roads often resembled the automotive equivalent of The Evil Dead, with unpainted bumpers and missing hubcaps appearing as star features.

Initially bowing out after 2025, Nissan reversed course to continue giving buyers a chance to nab cheap wheels. This week, reports confirm that the Altima faces the chopping block after the 2027 model year, which is set to arrive in dealers this fall.

When it does eventually croak, the industry will be a less interesting hellscape to navigate.

3rd Shift: Florida Woman doesn’t appreciate new form of flattery

A senior resident went viral on YouTube after coming forward to voice her displeasure on the possession of a new license plate that manages to be inconveniently typical of Florida. Miss Della Stritto was surprised that the state’s DMV managed to deliver a backhand compliment through random letter generation.

She is now the recipient of SQZ A55, with the faint semblance of a pressed orange for comedic effect:

I’ll let you come to the predetermined interpretation but the viral news has brought on an outpouring of support, encouraging Frau Stritto to give it a try. She notes that she “can handle it if I get a few honks here and there. Actually, being over 70, I might like a few honks.”

So there’s hope for the Golden Girl who seems to take the unwanted attention in stride. If she sticks with it, she has the backing of a nation and its car enthusiasts to cheer her on. This is feminism in 2026.

Weekend Getaway: And the $35,377 winner is…

No surprise, it’s the Toyota Camry. This may be the obvious choice for hundreds of thousands of buyers every year but the latest generation is truly the bee’s knees.

For 2025, the Camry was redesigned as a hybrid-only powerhouse with flawless chassis tuning for handling, enough creature comforts to emphasize value, and a comfortable cabin to boot. You can even get all-wheel drive if you live in the Great White North and, a feature that saved my bacon, a standard spare wheel.

My perfect Camry comes in at $12 under the Keating Line. This includes the optional sunroof, heated seats and steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror with garage controls, and smart keyless entry. You already get a decent six-speaker audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and fuel economy in the mid-forties, what more do you need?

It’s an easy sell for all buyers, even if you’re not a car buff. Might I compel you to try one?

-TA

Author’s note: Want to become an early adopter of Sped? Subscribe to Patreon while I work on providing exclusive benefits which will soon include bonus content and other perks. Thank you! -TA

I’d been under the weather this week. That hasn’t stopped me coming up with future content for Sped, but it does mean the creative juices have slowed down a bit amid recovery. That doesn’t mean however, that once something gets in my head I can’t unsee it, and therefore I feel an obligation share with you and the rest of the internet.

It involves the Toyota Grand Highlander, a rather mundane family SUV that, to be honest, I don’t have a lot to write home about except its appearance from a certain angle.

That certain angle is what brought up the blobfish comparison:

Do you see what I see? The beady little eyes match the reverse lights, with the taillight housing drooping in a downward angle, as is the lower bumper to match the blobfish’s Eeyore-like demeanor.

This is a styling choice by the largest vehicle manufacturer in the world. It’s nightmare optics on behalf of the blobfish, which manages to achieve its melting appearance due to extreme decompression brought on by underwater pressure. Blobfish navigate roughly half a mile deep, lending its general aesthetic to empower the population of Millennial and Gen-Z emos.

So let’s end this note on a positive and share what it looks like in its natural habitat:

Not so much a family SUV, eh? Like a Toyota born from this century, it looks rather inoffensive and up to the task of conducting fishy business without suspicion. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather look at the rear end of a Toyota Grand Highlander than burn my eyes reading a fluff piece on non-performative steering wheel buttons found on a Chevy.

There are better ways to amuse yourself on a road trip that don’t confine to reading slop on your phone. Now every time you get a chance to tailgate a Toyota Grand Highlander, the burning image of a blobfish will come to mind and you’ll have a couple of amusing factoids to share with your fellow occupants before it brake checks you.

-TA

Author’s note: Want to become an early adopter of Sped? Subscribe to Patreon while I work on providing exclusive benefits which will soon include bonus content and other perks. Thank you! -TA

The first week of reborn Sped is in the books. With it came a lot of patience, lenience on your part as the reader, and renewed motivation to turn the blog into something greater.

The sky’s the limit for where this blog can go. It’s going to take a lot of adjustments to reach its status of an institution but I see it. I can picture it happening and I hope you can, too.

First things first, there must be discipline. This means a dedicated posting schedule that should minimize the occurrence of new material being released on Saturday Sunday when complications arise. So I’m still dabbling with the publishing calendar and how to balance it with exclusive bonus content landing on Patreon.

And finally, there’s social media to reckon so Sped can reach a larger audience. Gee whiz, that’s a lot to think about.

Okay let’s take it one step at a time. For now, I’m proposing an alternating schedule that allows you to catch up on leisure-era Sped before it goes to the archives, and me to prepare material ahead of time for serious-era Sped.

So far, that looks like this:

Week 1

Tuesday Thursday, Saturday

Week 2

Monday, Wednesday

This does not take Vibe Checks into account which I will attempt to deliver at the end of every week because some sites do on the daily. So at the very least, you’ll get regular recaps.

I’ll also point out that this schedule pertains to the free blog while Patreon is still getting worked out. With that mind, let’s get on with the Monday post since we’re on the second week of the schedule in progress.

BMW is reworking its brand image to roll out a new lineup of EVs. Neue Klasse marks a new chapter for the brand, showcasing an all new design language to go with a new generation of battery tech that should see future models reaching more than 400 miles per charge.

Marking the turning point is the redesign of BMW’s most important model. The X5 was the first SUV for the brand when it launched for 1999. Very quickly it became the bestseller. Some 20-odd years later, it’s the most valuable asset.

The X5 is not the first BMW to receive the Neue Klasse makeover. It is however, the first one that will be offered with a gas engine as well as a battery electric vehicle. In fact, BMW is launching it with four different forms of propulsion, including plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell options in the near future.

Inside, I quite like Bimmer’s approach to screens. A dashboard-wide display sits just below the windshield to yield crucial information, such as speed and temperature, while a trapezoidal monolith sits within arm’s reach. This includes a passenger screen you can skip because your smartphone will provide hours of entertainment during a road trip.

This is not the first Neue Klasse in brand history. Until the 1960s, BMW was a prestigious luxury carmaker until it was in the fiscal position to offer more. More cars to more people for a less premium price tag without losing the driving verve that it became famous for. Neue Klasse simply means “new class.” Pretty much straight to the point.

Part two of Neue Klasse doesn’t refer to a new social class, but an advanced lineup of battery EVs that can go further from the plug. Sooner or later, the visual overhaul will soon trickle to every model, without the necessitate to choose electric.

In a way, the brand’s mission is not too different from what Sped is trying to achieve. It’s just better known. Not our first time around the sun; launching with renewed enthusiasm and purpose.

The difference is I won’t charge you $71,250 for the cheapest form of access. Hell, I’ll barely charge you at all, Substack is free. But if you want to leave something in the tip jar, you’re welcome to say kudos. If you want to see Sped go further and beyond, consider subscribing to Patreon.

Join the Sped Neue Klasse. Let’s go further together.

-TA

If you’re seeing this just after reading the previous post then you know that I messed up my own scheduling, pushing it back to Saturday Sunday for a purely innocent reason; to build the case for why Sped matters in 2026.

I want to see this succeed, and I won’t pretend there will be growing pains on occasion. But one thing I am excited for is the return of recaps to reflect on news related to cars. Longtime subscribers know that Sped was initially started as a leisure outlet. For the next chapter of this blog, Vibe Checks remain.

To give you a brief overview, the purpose of the Vibe Check is to seek out significant news and give it a score based on positive, or negative, impact. For instance, lack of demand for the Tesla Cybertruck would rate between 1 to 2, while adding a green paint option for the Nissan Z will receive a 10.

With that in mind, let’s check in on some BFDs that have come out in the last few weeks.

1st Shift: Automatic or Manual Ferrari? Yes.

A resurgence in analog tech has reached an engineer in Maranello. And it spurred Ferrari to offer a manual transmission in the latest V-12 flagship supercar.

Called, rather plainly, the 12Cylindri Manuale, its mission is to balance the best of both worlds. At the center of the transmission tunnel lays an automatic, which can switch to the manual mode at the press of the clutch pedal, allowing you to shift using the gated stick poking out of the middle there.

Although there are six forward gears to row through, the transmission itself has a total of eight, with the top two intended for cruising. At any time, the driver can switch back to the automatic setting, with the ability to go back and forth as they please.

A radical compromise, this manual automatic mishmash actually appeared first in the Koenigsegg CC850, which was commissioned as a tribute to the company’s first model. To better accommodate both audiences, it pioneered a transmission design that won’t shun either.

The manual transmission has been coming back in weird ways. Conversions are taking off for Lamborghini models, as well as various one-offs in Ferraris among others. After committing to an automatic-only lineup for the last decade or so, it’s nice to know that Ferrari is listening to its audience.

Hopefully, Ferrari expands this transmission design to more models. So far, the 12Cylindri Manuale is a promising first step.

2nd Shift: A Clutch Pedal Makes You Smarter So Buy More Of Them

We’re staying on the manual train with the cool news that rowing your own gears have a proven effect of making you smarter. Even better, this comes from the man in charge of Nintendo’s Brain Age games designed to stimulate the mind.

It turns out operating a manual transmission has a similar effect. I’ll let Carscoops take over who translated the study:

(T)he study found that the physical sequence of driving a manual lights up the prefrontal cortex, the region that handles memory, attention, and decision-making. Reading traffic speed, dipping the clutch, picking a gear by hand, and metering the throttle all happen at once, and keeping them coordinated demands a level of engagement that holds the driver’s attention from one moment to the next.

In a country aging as quickly as Japan, asking the brain to juggle those inputs every day functions as a kind of low-grade workout it would otherwise skip. Stimulating neural pathways helps preserve cognitive function in a way that riding passively in an automatic or semi-autonomous vehicle simply cannot match.

Pretty cool right? It’s a shame that Japan has an even lower take rate for new manual cars than the U.S., hovering between 1-2 percent. The campaign to Save The Manuals has never died out but recent efforts by Ferrari and Koenigsegg have fueled renewed interest that three pedals still matter.

Here’s hoping for a trickle-down effect that sees the standard transmission as a regular option again. Pagers are welcome, too.

3rd Shift: I’m Not Sure The Fiat Topolino Can Win Over Americans

Fiat’s return to the U.S. market has largely fallen flat. For a time, it was possible to lease a 500e EV with no money down, which shows how desperate the company is move cars.

The Topolino manages to wear an even cuter mug than the 500e. It also has a sticker price of $14,895. The downside is, you can’t drive it on the road.

This is where the removable doors come in because the Topolino’s biggest competition is a golf cart. It has a top speed of 19 mph and an electric driving range of 46 miles. Supposedly, a conversion kit is coming to turn the dial up on speed which can classify it as a Low-Speed Vehicle. The ace is that this will make it road legal.

But is that good enough? It’s not that Fiat cannot deliver on style, we know it’s got plenty of that. The challenge is the cutesy Italian brand just doesn’t bake enough substance into cars it brings to the U.S. Small cars are necessary in Europe to navigate towns and cities that have been made for walking since the Middle Ages. Kei cars remain popular for the same logic in Japan.

It will take a lot of convincing to make the Topolino a mainstay in the U.S. To pull it off, the slightly bigger 500e needs to emulate greater success. If it’s tempting, head on over to their site and see how damn cute these things are.

Meanwhile, the Topolino is a tough sell.

Weekend Revelation

Maintaining this blog ain’t easy. The difference is Sped fuels a renewed purpose for 2026 that is no longer met by other car platforms. Watch it grow with me, share with friends, and support it through Patreon for bonus content and a burgeoning roster of perks.

-TA

There’s a twist of irony in writing this post, or rather, finally writing it out because what I want to do is talk about Sped, why it matters, and the evil plan I wish to carry out to its full extent.

All while in the midst of an apology for this being a day late even though it was slated for Saturday release. Determining what Sped means going forward played a role in its delay because simply, I do not have the technical knowhow to explain the predicament that journalism is in. That’s why I’ve enrolled in grad school to gain a better grasp on the subject.

So for the time being, I can only explain at face value why car journalism sucks right now. What I can tell you is that it begins and ends with A.I. Tension has been brewing between writers and “writers” who use some form of software to better complete their articles. The difference is the latter doesn’t drum up any meaningful takeaways in regards to the topic at hand. This is where the term “slop” comes into play.

Simply put, human-based writing often portrays relevant information as the meat, while the entertainment element is the fat. This comes in the way of an icebreaker, an opportunity to demonstrate wit to captivate the reader before getting to the heart of the story. Hence the meat of it.

Slop is a newer term that relates to a similar word: fluff. I’ll borrow the definition from Lehigh University’s academic journal:

Fluff in writing is when you add unnecessary words, phrases, or sentences that don’t really add value. It’s filler content that makes your essay seem longer without actually improving it. Professors can spot it instantly because they’ve read hundreds (if not thousands) of student papers. They’re looking for clear, well-structured arguments, not long-winded sentences stuffed with vague words.

That same article breaks down a few examples for what qualifies as fluff:

• Unnecessary words and phrases – Saying “due to the fact that” instead of “because.”

• Over-explaining simple ideas – Writing a full paragraph about something that could be said in one sentence.

• Repeating the same point in different ways – Saying “this is important” three times in a row.

• Fancy words that don’t add value – Using “utilize” instead of “use” just to sound more academic.

College professors hate receiving this from students trying to achieve a certain word count. Unfortunately, it’s taking root in a crucial industry where people who spent years to obtain a journalism degree are being pushed out by those less qualified to publish material effectively, all in the name of content curation.

The distinction lies in the media outlet’s willingness to post in quantity rather than quality. Better explained by an old gig who broke down the problem at large and linked examples of it, what you end up with is a congealed mess of information that is difficult to comprehend.

When this happens, it matters less what the publication is because original thought is lacking, which results in the platform losing its unique voice, which is how Jalopnik or MotorTrend bloomed in the first place. Their heydays are behind them, only to become another faucet of spilling information without an identity.

When your job is distilled down to echoing Consumer Reports, something is wrong. I doubt the notion of our founding fathers emphasizing freedom of the press was to regurgitate information with the intention to spit it out. It encouraged the exchange of ideas, having engaged in discussion to build meaningful dialogue.

Slop waters this down. As a result, intelligence goes down. So does morale. And the forces at work will use this against you to amplify propaganda. This is why political tension is high right now. Weirdly, the second largest consequence affects car journalism.

While I can’t sway political beliefs, I can address the latter. The writer of these posts that you’ll see from Sped has an extensive background related to the automobile. Three things work in my favor and yours: a lifelong enthusiasm for cars has resulted in a years-long career in sales following the pandemic. In turn, this has cemented high product knowledge that I can convey to you as the reader, using the combined efforts of journalistic integrity and vocabulary to explain complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand.

Early feedback has revealed this to be the case. And that brings me to the root of what Sped will become: to empower you with the information you need to buy the car you want and own it without doubt. While Sped improves in real time, embrace the imperfect quality of writing you see here. My attempt to be a wordsmith and an editor will be strained at times.

Author’s note: Want to become an early adopter of Sped? Subscribe to Patreon while I work on providing exclusive benefits which will soon include bonus content and other perks. Thank you! -TA

Clean copy won’t always be perfect, but there lies the beauty of it all. The quality of A.I.-generated content has plateaued, shifting favorably back to writers. Sadly, it’s likely that the auto industry won’t fully revert to human writing, as MotorTrend opened this can of worms permanently. The entity made a deal with the digital devil to sell rights to its original works to OpenAI in a move to elevate social stupidity.

From the press release, I don’t even know what this statement means:

“Our partnership with OpenAI will help us evolve the future of magazine content,” said Hearst Magazines President Debi Chirichella. “This collaboration ensures that our high-quality writing and expertise, cultural and historical context and attribution and credibility are promoted as OpenAI’s products evolve.”

Whatever the drivel, I doubt this will very much happen while nonchalant misinformation continues to pose a threat, as the same old gig pointed out. The platform, which commits to humane writing and delivering power to the people, confessed to losing money because of a move by Google that results in less internet traffic.

So I’ve decided I’m also going to talk shit as I please when it feels appropriate because there are people out there who are against this sentiment, some of whom have already subscribed to Sped. The goal is to give the anti-A.I. folks a new home, as well as the old school art of mixing entertainment value with meaningful information so you are better equipped to invest in your current car or the next.

I’ll also figure out a way to get round Google’s take on Discover, which as it stands is not all that reliable. Surely, there’s a way to get the ball back in our court right?

So bear with me as Sped grows and so does its mission. There’s no pigeonholing this blog and I want to see it become an institution that expands into multiple ventures.

In the meantime, I thank you for being an early adopter of this venture and supporting it. The only thing I ask is that you continue to tune in.

-TA

First, some housekeeping. It never occurred to me that I would relaunch Sped on July 7. And that the car that would serve as a key source of inspiration is the Austin 7. This was pointed out to me later in the day after the post went live and I laughed to myself.

Sadly, I don’t have anything to coincide with July 9 because I decided to appreciate the color green, and the sports cars recently announced to wear it. What’s amazing is that the cars in question are two of the oldest in the market, yet are seeing a surge in sales due to scarcity.

We’ll start with the Nissan Z. This generation of the Z wears retro details of the previous Z cars such as the 240Z, 280Z, and 300ZX, yet it rides on a chassis first revealed in 2002 for the 350Z. Some 20-odd years later, the platform is good enough to use for the current Z, only Nissan decided to attach no numbers to the name.

That was in 2023. For 2027, it gets an updated face with new wheel designs. There are no mechanical changes, though if you ask me, it doesn’t need it. I was lucky enough to drive one a few years ago and prefer it to the BMW-derived reborn Supra.

The highlight is the Shinkai Green Pearl Metallic paint that’s available going forward. Together with the updated 19-inch wheels, the 2027 Nissan Z is so pretty it hurts. As if it needed to deliver a TKO, Nissan went ahead and combined the green paint with a new brown interior color for a classic throwback.

You can get it with an automatic but you want the six-speed manual.For a car slated to be cheaper than most Mustangs–let alone BMW–400 horsepower has never looked so beautiful.

Part Deux

The second half of green heartache refers to a car I actually own. The Mazda MX-5 is delightfully analog like me and for 2027, the company saw fit to finally add green to its paint palette.

Other changes? Ummm. Well, Europe gets new wheels but not us. We got a slew of updates for 2024 but don’t be fooled. This generation of the Miata has been on sale largely unchanged since 2015. How do you improve perfection?

It turns out the answer lies in Zinc Green Metallic. Lord knows how many times I’d been tempted to throw caution to the wind and blow a thousand dollars to wrap mine in some shade of green and this doesn’t make it easier. My 2021 Miata has never seen a garage and I’m glad I went with white. Hindsight is a powerful thing.

Anyway, Zinc Green is a winner for the Miata and it gives me hope for the future of sports cars. With new tech dragging quality down with the hybrid kit and caboodle, there’s an ongoing debate as to whether ‘old’ new cars are still worth it. If you ask me, it’s an absolute yes.

So keep buying them. Life’s short enough as it is so enjoy yourself.

-TA

It’s humble pie eating time for Sped because this week marks a major rebirth for the brand that so few people came to know and love. Those that do love it, want more. Then there’s the emphasis on few.

The coming days and weeks will be something of an introduction of what Sped is, as well as outlining the ambitions to turn the blog from something I did for funsies, into a household name. What I pray is that Sped becomes something of an institution that will cover cars, the world that affects them, buying advice for a remorse-free purchase, and how, and why, it’s worth it to keep them going.

Driving the brand – pun intended – and its aspirations is the writer whose material you are reading right now! If you are, I thank you for taking a chance on this spunky blog.

But I encourage you, it’s no accident that you are here. You are here to learn something. Maybe it’s about the perspective of a car. Maybe it’s about what you’re looking to buy next. Maybe you are looking for a reason to possess the car you long desired for years to come. This is the platform to turn to.

This is the promise: To deliver an informal opinion that is entertaining and educational enough for you to take to your next dealer visit. This from someone who is a lifelong buff on the subject, who spent years in the sales industry post-pandemic exercising such restraint, and holds an atmospherically high level of product knowledge on past, present, and potentially the future of automobiles.

However knowledgeable I may be, the sky is the limit to learn more, and develop insight based on what amuses the human psyche. We are learning together how cars fit society and vice versa. We are also learning how to turn Sped into the hub for all things automotive while A.I. has an iron grip on journalism. Sadly, its strongest hold currently is on car journalism.

Because I am human, I will make fun of such instances that come up. An article, an article I chose to put through A.I. detection software, misinformation of a certain subject, and topics that should not be taboo. You can’t put the click in rage bait, but you can incite rage in clickbait.

I am a freelancer while Sped is in the early stages of growth. Please do me a favor and make me no longer a freelancer. It’s my desire to operate this institution on a full-time basis, as well as spread my wings on other ventures. This I’ll cover down the road.

Right now, I’m just glad you’re here. And you may be wondering what is the mysterious automobile that sits on the top of the post. Before I tell you what it is, let me share its accomplishments.

This iconic little car is responsible for putting BMW, Jaguar, Lotus, and Nissan (then Datsun) on the map. Its mechanical influence stretched from the 1920s into the new millennium. Inside stamped the layout drivers take for granted for what we can call conventional controls: shifter in the middle, brake on the left, throttle on the right (clutch on far left if you’re inclined to row your own gears), ignition key, steering wheel comfortably within reach.

Its impact to the world was so tantalizing, that the name was reused when the Mini Cooper debuted for the first time. That was in the late 1950s. There are simply no words to demonstrate the effect the Austin 7 had on the car world. Nor am I convinced such an impact can be replicated.

The Austin 7 delivered a silent, but stellar, success in the auto industry. It feels like a fitting symbol for what I aim for Sped to achieve. For the moment, all I can do is hope in my heart that you’ll follow this journey with me.

It won’t be perfect. Writing never is. But it’s a damn improvement compared to the A.I. slop that is taking over the internet. Help me take control back and we will prevail together.

Thank you now, and always, for reading to the end. Let’s get to work.

-TA

Mazda is typically a carmaker that strays from the pack in terms of trying to offer something different. It knows it will never move as much volume as the Japanese giants that are Toyota or Honda. It won’t even move as much product as Nissan despite the latter losing money by the minute.

So fuck it, Mazda will do its own thing. In the past, that meant pioneering the Wankel rotary engine until it was good enough to run without pistons or a noise limit. When emission regulations finally killed it, Mazda moved on to the next best thing: SUVs.

Yes, a bland proposal until you realize this is Mazda we’re talking about. That just because company priorities shift doesn’t mean it hasn’t lost the zoom-zoom demeanor that the cars are long known for. Just look at Porsche with the Cayenne.

Like the Cayenne, the CX-5 was an immediate hit for Mazda when it launched for 2013. Although not its first SUV, it is by far the biggest hit, turning the brand from a novelty maker that made the equivalent of Japanese BMWs into a household name.

Still, Mazda is still relatively small. So it’s understandable that it hesitates to mess with success. Which is why the 2026 redesign is a big deal.

It may be paying off though because, per a report by Autoblog, more people are researching the CX-5 than any other small SUV this year so far, including rivals that dominate sales year after year. The humble little Mazda is seeing more internet traffic than the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V.

This is also a BFD because each are capable of selling almost half a million per year. The best calendar year for CX-5 sales is still less than half that, despite it being Mazda’s bestselling model by a significant margin. So it adds to the momentum the brand has right now after selling over 400,000 total units annually back to back for the first time.

The irony is the 2026 CX-5 isn’t actually all that different beneath the skin. Mazda still utilizes the same platform with the same 2.5-liter engine, the same six-speed automatic transmission, much of the same suspension components, and the same rack-and-pinion steering for better road feedback. You get the picture.

The talk of the town is the entirely new cabin derived of buttons, replaced with a giant center screen or a humungous display if you opt for top Premium Plus trim. It’s hated and vile but that’s the trend right now. Fortunately, that’s the biggest disappointment.

Other meaningful changes include more space for all passengers, not typically a Mazda trait, and a hybrid is coming soon to show that Mazda can keep up with the times. It’s always been a little old hat in terms of features and committing to vehicle amenities that just don’t need to be fixed if it ain’t broken.

This is why the Miata is as timeless as Betty White humor (R.I.P.). You can love it back when she bantered with Joan Rivers and you can love it in current times all the way up until she drew her last breath. It doesn’t matter if you buy an MX-5 from 1990 or this year. It will be praised with love and admiration on behalf of the car and its owner.

If Miatas want to keep getting made, it needs to keep making money. So Mazda will bow to the powers that be in order to get more people to the showrooms. Becoming more internet popular than Toyota and Honda shows it’s on the right path in this AI driven, sloppy ridden world.

Also, I appreciate that it still looks weird. The last CX-5 is weird and endearing and I suspect that’s why they flew off lots. Further proof that shows Mazda hadn’t lost the plot.

Obnoxious screen aside, I will continue to embrace the zoom-zoom ambiguity in solidarity.

-TA

All images: Mazda

Or should the question be, what’s old is new? That’s the dilemma Ferrari currently faces in order to update its fleet of thoroughbred Italian stallions, which currently faces a problem burdening the rest of the industry: infuriating tech.

Ferrari banked its cause on the fact that people are willing to pay six figures for a new supercar with a cabin that looks like this:

Do you see what I see? Screens everywhere flanked by an abundant lack of physical switchgear. While some tactile controls have begun to return to the steering wheel and trickle down the center console, it feels like a temporary remedy to a long-term problem that seems to fail to get addressed sufficiently. This is more or less the attitude these days that all manufacturers are working to rectify, not just the one from Maranello.

But Ferrari’s approach is more radical than most. It’s going for a bit of a throwback with the interior reveal for its upcoming EV. Yes, it is still digitized but the big news is that every control is designed to be tactile to the driver’s—and their occupants—satisfaction. A little surprising when you consider the source of its inspiration.

To give you a hint, the person responsible for this slice of automotive artistry has this device in his portfolio:

That’s right, the iPhone that was designed by none other than Jony Ive. Other than his ability to say “better product” with the delivery tone of an affluent narrator reading the first edition of The Great Gatsby, he has managed to curate quite the collection of less-than-fugly designs for several devices, interfaces, and yes, cars.

Which is why the interior of the new Ferrari EV is making waves. There isn’t even a car to show but based on what we know about it so far, it’s likely that the Luce—Ferrari’s name for it—will induce a bit of retro flair that extends to more than what goes on behind the wheel.

This is what makes new cars exciting to look forward to. It’s not about the latest tech or whatever flash designers attempt to draw up to get people excited for the next model. Right now, functional yields more appeal than ever. So when we see the finished better product, I will predict that this fully-electric vehicle will be excellent.

Because I guarantee there is a yearning for the type of satisfaction we missed out on in the 1990s, when Honda over-engineered the rear hatch of an EH2-series Civic. This is precisely the type of excitement society should drum up if cars are to remain a staple in a culture that is slowly becoming more autonomous.

And yes, this is coming out on my birthday. My message is to be excited to drive it, not for the stuff that’s in it.

-TA

Holy cow, where did the time go? It’s like I blinked and suddenly I’m not waiting in line to get the Covid shot for the first time, I’m working on growing my freelance career to turn it into something of a permanent thing, not just whatever I was working on the side.

Among the changes I’m making in life includes something of a revamp for Sped. I know, you read this and you’ve seen it before – my desire to turn this delightful Substack into something greater, where there’s posts everyday, merch, and maybe a YouTube channel where you see my face plastered with a permanent smile because I’m driving my dream cars and sharing the joy with you.

The ambition hasn’t changed. What is changing is my dedication to this blog because I am in a place where I can commit more time to it. And hopefully I can start to bring merch to the table and elevate the brand toward the point where it becomes a household name.

The day before the big three-oh has brought inspiration, and it comes in the form of the Austin Seven, an automobile that has lived in my head rent-free as of late.

The reason for this is because the Seven unintentionally became the template for what is expected in a modern car. It’s solely responsible for coming equipped with conventional pedals, a shifter located in the center, the instrument panel showing your speed, oil temperature and the like, and the ignition. Having launched in 1922, there wasn’t any regulation implemented in the U.K., the little Austin being British, saying this was to be required in cars going forward. What happened became the greatest snowball effect ever to occur in automotive history.

This is because shortly after its debut, the chassis was embraced by coach builders in Australia for customer cars, birthing at least one company we know today as Holden. Before the 1930s, newcomers had begun to license it as a soft launch for the respective brands. Believe it or not, the world’s first BMW, Jaguar, Lotus, Jeep, and Datsun (Nissan today) models were an Austin Seven.

Through production and after it ended in 1939, the Seven continued to serve demand through official and unofficial channels. It continued to be built across the Channel in France, as well as nearby Germany and Japan. After the second World War, it began to use a hodgepodge of parts as any car company worth its salt – too many to count and I intend to do a deep dive – used the Austin Seven as the basis for commuting transport and racing aspirations.

The key? Access. Sir Herbert Austin was in charge of a growing company just as cars were beginning to come into popularity. It was no longer an experiment, a social debate between horse and carriage. The novelty of driving yourself, or to be driven somewhere, at speed was becoming the norm.

Sevens were built in multiple configurations from racing cars to pickup trucks. The chassis being virtually interchangeable with whatever body you chose to tack on top lent to its popularity.

Although he died before its peak, Sir Austin is credited for spurring the entire British industry post war. His name is attached to the long-awaited replacement to the Seven, known as the A30. The first Minis of the late 1950s were officially called Austin Sevens as a direct successor before the Mini name stuck. Its designer was confident that the Mini was going to be the next big thing in mass transportation and he was right.

Of course, the original Seven didn’t come into demand because of its now-conventional cabin. It had blistering performance for the era, employing four-cylinder power as standard to give it more gusto. Power ranged from 10 to 17 horsepower for the base Sevens, while performance models delivered the full monty to get the Seven up to highway speeds! Bare in mind, this was before the integration of the interstate highway system so the sky was the limit. Turns out 23 horsepower could give you God-like abilities a hundred years ago.

Austin also pioneered the synchromesh transmission later in the Seven’s production run. This allows for smoother gear changes which in turn enables greater confidence in driving. The Seven could then be pitched to women in an early portrayal of feminism.

Seeing the potential of the Austin Seven has me rethinking how to approach Sped and turn it into a powerhouse. It doesn’t have to be the first Substack blog with a focus on cars, but it could become the biggest.

Technically, the Austin Seven was not the first car to feature the transmission layout of modern cars – that goes to Cadillac, of all things – but that doesn’t mean it had a lesser impact. A ballpark of 300,000 units were produced under the original name. That doesn’t take into account how many BMWs, Jaguars, Lotus, Jeeps, Holdens, Datsuns, and coachbuilt cars were built along the way. So far, the number I’m seeing in my research on the Seven’s descendents approaches half a million.

That pales in comparison to the number of Model Ts Ford built in the Progressive era, 15 million in all. The Model T, however, featured complicated controls meaning the Austin Seven’s impact was just as great on a global scale.

So I feel it deserving to be the vehicle of Sped going forward, because of the potential it brought to a world that hadn’t even seen the first computer. Now that the world is full of computers, there is a social movement to place less emphasis on emerging technologies for our own well-being. This translates into less doom-scrolling, no screen time before bed, offloading apps that take away too much attention from original thought, and lessening distractions – a point that sees too many consequences in traffic collisions. Screens in cars suck, contributing to the increasing age of cars on the road because they’re just not all up to snuff.

Being a digital nomad is the way to go. You can use tech in a way that’s beneficial with none of the downsides, forging the way back to human connection. That’s the end goal of Sped.

So for my thirtieth year round the sun, the goal is an ambitiously small goal of 1,000 subscribers. The earliest part of growth is always the hardest before it too, like the Austin Seven, will spur a snowball effect. That seems like good motivation, innit?

So share with your friends, your family, your barber, your non-denominational priest, all is well to help propel Sped to greatness. Let’s go to work.

-TA

Images: Silodrome

That’s a hell of a title right? Well it’s true. I’m about to become an attention H-O-R-E for two reasons—I want Sped to succeed and I want to build a business. Not just selling cars and insurance, but to have my own LLC. where I can help people to a greater extent.

That doesn’t mean we can’t have fun along the way. I’ve uncovered a book I’ve had since high school(?) that’s basically a diary of what one person claims are the worst cars in the world.

And he knows there are people out there who will defend some of these cars. So fuck it. When life gives you lemons (or Total Lemons, in this case), you make lemonade.

Today’s entry is brief, a Japanese kei car that was an Uno-Reverse attempt to be premium by hyping up basic. The thing is though, nothing in the four paragraphs actually mentions a demerit to the cutesy compact. I mean, this is what he said:

In 1998 Daihatsu decided there was a niche for a car aimed at buyers who wanted the Schwarzenegger-tough look of an American military Hummer, but were actually hobbits.

The slap-sided automotive midget that resulted was called the Naked. Yes, you heard correctly: Naked. Why? Perhaps someone had already registered the name Stupid.

Okay, cool it with the insults! There isn’t any constructive criticism that finishes the rest of the page spread dedicated to the Daihatsu Naked. It having a minuscule 660 cubic-centimeter engine isn’t a demerit. This is domestic regulation that lends itself to how the kei car came into existence. On an island like Japan, smallness matters.

So never mind that the motor is actually twin-turbocharged for decent pickup. Its signature trait lies in its practicality, a necessity in a kei car. For that, I’ll simply turn it over to someone who saw one of these cars up close:

Couldn’t say it better myself. Now that I see this, I want one and hope you do, too. It’s the easiest redemption arc, one that can send the Naked to Lemon Heaven and leave the rest of us to shamelessly giggle.

If you like this post, I’ll break down more alleged lemons.

—TA

Nissan has been in dire financial straits for a minute. This despite pumping out some of its best cars for the first time in probably a couple of decades. With the GT-R finally retired to Mount Fuji, it’s left without a staple. At the same time, ordinary passenger vehicles continue to shine.

The Frontier gets yearly updates to keep up with the hot-selling Toyota Tacoma. The redesigned Sentra is fantastic despite an average powertrain. And finally, the Z may ride on a chassis derived from the Y2K era, but it too has morphed into a viable alternative to today’s crop of sports cars, including the Supra that will soon be phased out.

While Toyota puts it on ice, Nissan is going further. The Z gets meaningful changes for 2027, affecting both regular and NISMO variants. While the changes are mostly surface level, the Z suddenly morphs into one of the most beautiful cars you can buy today.

That’s on account of new rims and new Unryu Green paint that should be available stateside. Nissan pairs it well with a tasteful brown leather interior, also hopefully coming to North America.

On the NISMO end, the Z gains a manual transmission; previously only offered with the nine-speed automatic after outcry by fans. With it hopefully comes with a lower sticker than the high-sixties price it currently commands. In other words, Nissan is giving people what it asks for.

But is it enough? It’s not currently supported by an umbrella company like Chevrolet, which among others is backed by General Motors. It doesn’t quite have the flux of cash to dig itself out of the fiscal rut that it’s currently stuck in and has been for a while.

I just hope we’re not seeing the beginning of the end of Nissan, not when it’s pumping out its greatest crop of cars yet. This was part of the logic when I inducted the three models mentioned into the first Pick10 panel for 2026, because there’s value in keeping the company going.

Only time will tell. For now though, let’s just enjoy the ride the company can deliver.

–TA

It’s pretty clear that I don’t post here on the regular, as much as I wish for Sped to be a full-time job. True to the bio, I work and do other things that take me away from writing (and reading), as much as I’d rather be confined to the literary arts.

Case in point, I thought I was going to post something of a hard launch article involving a Grace Jones ad, specifically the one where her facial qualities are replicated and mechanized into an Easter Island head, and then a Citroen CX bursts out of her anatomically-incorrect mouth, birthing a French icon.

The top graphic I was going to use also had a Nissan Altima on it for reasons I can’t recall as I write this. Probably using the analogy of the cockroach after a nuclear blast, the meme-ification of the Altima means it would probably survive all the same. But, we’ll never know.

My point is, I want this to become something of a full-time job. The hustle is real between coming up with social media, SEO, and writing enough content to show up in your email inbox daily. Trouble is, it’s not my only hustle. And right now, it’s the only one that doesn’t pay.

So I’m setting forth the goal of 1,000 subscribers. So I am calling on you, my foundation readers of this spunky blog, to share and reshare. Social media will provide a boost and that’s next on my punch list.

Really though, this Quick Jump is really a big thank you to whoever lays eyes on this. Because you stuck around even as Sped continues to rake in small numbers. If you’re intrigued, consider subscribing because to see it grow without the need to morph it into a conglomerate would mean the world to me.

So share this blog as much as you can and let’s chase the road to 1,000. Maybe someday, sooner than later, Sped can become an institution spurred by passion and grit and help you fall in love with the car you own.

Am I reaching for the stars here? Probably. But it’s possible with y’all by my side. Thank you again, and let’s get to work.

Also, this is the trippy ad I’m referring to.

–TA

It’s an eventful start.

Happy New Year! I’m about three weeks late ringing in another trip around the sun but well, I’ve been busy—as I’m sure you have, too. Yes, you! The delightful reader kind enough to open this email notification.

I’m still here and healthy, I wish the same for you and everyone else short of my most evil and worst enemies. The rest of the world can revel in hatred while I focus on the growth of this blog, so I’ll delegate that energy to public officials and famous names campaigning to make the world a better place.

What hasn’t changed with Sped? Vibe Checks! Because emotional and internet well-being is crucial. If we’re to be distracted by the swathes of digital technology implemented in every aspect of our lives, then we may as well be selective in how we choose to use it. That includes humane blogs that doesn’t carry an ounce of artificial intelligence about it.

Without further ado, let’s embrace the mostly good news to kick off 2026.

1st Shift: Tariffs Be Damned, The Mazda CX-5 Is Still Affordable

Sadly, tariffs are still a hot button topic a year into the new presidency despite being absolutely ripped by resident citizens of this once-great country and our global diplomats.

Fortunately, Mazda’s homegrown CX-5 should remain a popular favorite as its base price has barely increased. After much deliberating as to whether it’s replaced by the domestic-built CX-50, it seems this is here to worm its way into our urban hearts, leaving the CX-50 to cater to the outdoorsy folk.

So it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that they’re priced in a similar ballpark. The 2026 CX-5 starts at just $90 more than the American cousin; $31,485 versus $31,395 for the latter. Although still comparable under the hood, the two are more distinctive in terms of interior layout and overall vibes. Naturally, the redesigned CX-5 brings new tech features that make the CX-50 look somewhat aged. Small things but that’s not why you buy a Mazda.

You buy a Mazda for the Zoom-zoom verve that remains long after the commercial slogan has been retired, the alternative option against the Japanese giants that are Honda and Toyota. Even better, it achieved more than 400,000 annual sales for the second year straight—for the second time ever. Having the momentum of rising popularity as well as the redesigned bestseller coming soon, all signs point positive.

2nd Shift: Kia Is Also Making Great Affordable Cars

In more recent developments, reviews of the Kia K4 Hatchback have hit the internet. Mazda is demolishing company sales records, so is Kia. The Korean maker reached new heights with more than 850,000 vehicles moved for the 2025 calendar year.

Keeping that going is the launch of the five-door variant of the Kia K4, and let me tell you it looks snazzy. That sentiment is almost universally by auto critics that put every incoming new model through its paces. On that front, the K4 Hatchback passes with flying colors.

Combining style with substance, the K4 Hatchback is significantly more roomy than the sedan counterpart, despite lobbing off 11 inches in overall length. Cargo volume improves tremendously whether you fold the rear seats down or not.

Even better, the price difference is negligible, consistently costing a few hundred bucks more across all trims versus the K4 sedan. With interior room rivaling some small SUVs, the Hatchback will be a great buy when it arrives in dealerships in the coming months.

Can’t wait? You can build one now.

3rd Shift: New Forza Horizon Game Promises To Be Gorgeous

To the surprise of many people, especially gamers, Forza Horizon 5 boomed in popularity from the moment it arrived in the PlayStation store last April. Considering it’s ported from the Xbox console and has a legacy going back to the early 2000s, the racing franchise achieved 5 million copies in sales in just 8 months.

An incredible statistic when you realize that it launched for Xbox and PC platforms during the tail end of the pandemic. Although it’s defying age, Playground Games has blessed us with the next installment.

After landing in Colorado, southern Europe, Australia, the UK, and Mexico, Forza Horizon 6 brings the open-world experience to Japan for the first time. Appropriately, Toyota’s upcoming GR GT will grace the cover, accompanied by a handful of modern Japanese icons.

There’s even a teaser:

Let me tell you from experience that the graphics of Forza Horizon is stunning, so I expect the sixth iteration to be no less impressive. In addition, the car selection is massive, broaching several hundred available models—possibly a thousand at this point. The controller mechanics feel naturally linear to the hand and there’s enough races to keep you entertained for days. When competition is done, there are enough side quests by way of challenges to keep playing.

Forza Horizon 6 should be a stonker. The only fly in the ointment is that it releases on May 19 for Xbox and PC, with PlayStation 5 users anticipating an unspecified later date. A small price to pay for what is as close as virtual racing perfection as can be.

Weekend Getaway: It’s Still Cold So Let’s Play Forza Horizon 5

As much of the nation braces for a cold front that could fuck up my best friend’s trip to California, the safest option is to stay indoors. If you feel the hankering for a drive, why not Forza Horizon 5?

Now that it’s accessible on all major consoles (too graphics intense for Nintendo’s Switch), you can build your dream garage and customize cars exactly to your liking.

So go do it. Because life’s short enough not to have fun.

-TA

Surprise, they’re all Japanese.

Welcome to Day 2 of announcing our Pick10 winners. If you’ve seen Day 1, then you understand that every model embossed with a checkmark is on this list for a reason. Longevity is the buzzword if you wish to keep your car for years to come, and these prove it.

Looking forward to the next five, you’ll see that three come from a struggling, but prolific, automaker that listens to its buyers and is all the better for it. There’s also a surprise Subaru and a normcore automobile that has been spruced up for 2025. Let’s dive into why they’re here.

Pick10 — Nissan Frontier

Pickup trucks have grown too big, too complicated, and too expensive as of late. They used to be simple, utilitarian tools designed to get you and your things from point A to B without breaking a sweat. Nowadays, that’s rare to find.

Rare but not impossible, which is why the Nissan Frontier makes the cut. It doesn’t bring any flash nor excess, yet it matches—or exceeds—the hauling numbers that its competition brings to the table. All without going crazy with the gimmicks.

No hybrid here, a tried-and-true 3.8-liter V-6 delivers ample power without the need of electrical assist. That’s connected to a 9-speed transmission for ample acceleration. While it won’t get the mileage of the Toyota Tacoma, you’ll come to find out that remains one of its few flaws.

Pick10 — Nissan Sentra

The Nissan Sentra is maybe the most surprising entrant on this list. Socio-economic conditions dictate its current greatness as it becomes one of the cheapest new cars you can buy in 2026.

That doesn’t mean just because you’re on a budget, that you have to make sacrifices. The Sentra received a overhaul more radical than the Zohran Mamdani, both refreshing and a little polarizing but mostly good. You get an upscale cabin and lavish amenities to boot. All for a price that barely knocks the door of $30,000.

Part of why it’s cheaper than Toyota’s Corolla or the Honda Civic is under the skin. The 2.0-liter inline-4 remains, making exactly the same 149 horsepower as before. That’s connected a rubber band transmission, which we know better as a CVT. It’s better tuned than before, but let’s be honest. You’re not buying an econobox for the thrills. You buy it for anything but.

To that end, the Sentra plays to its strengths, now to a greater degree. And that’s what makes it a winner.

Pick10 — Nissan Z

Sports cars are a rare find new. So it’s odd to witness a model like the Nissan Z see a boost in sales like it did in 2025. Unlike the Toyota Supra, the Z intends to stick around for the near future.

Aiding that bet is the addition of a manual transmission to the Nismo variant, much to the outcry of its fans who pleaded for one after it was initially launched with an automatic only. Now you have both gearboxes to choose from for 2026. A refresh for 2027 fuels greater enthusiasm for the Fairlady, which I’ll write about soon.

But why? Is it the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 that makes 400 horsepower and goes like stink? Or is it the comfortable bucket seats? Or the rev-match system to better train novices who wish to learn how to drive manual?

How about all of the above. That’s what makes the Nissan Z a winner and worth keeping for years to come.

Pick10 — Subaru Crosstrek

I don’t know about you but the Subaru Crosstrek is the vehicle that surprised me the most in recent years. The first thing I noticed about the redesigned Crosstrek (new for 2024) is how comfortably supportive the seats are. From there, it was positive after positive after positive. For 2026, Subaru made key changes that elevates the Crosstrek to greatness.

Beyond the seats, the less powerful motor is gone. The 2.5-liter engine that’s in all Crosstreks mean it’s no longer a snail. The addition of a hybrid setup for 2026 gives it more pep in its step while delivering globs more fuel economy. How good? Subaru claims nearly 600 miles on a full tank.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s a Wilderness model geared for the more outdoorsy folks. That includes a higher ground clearance and enough features to keep you off the grid for a few days.

For all of its merits, if you can get past the somewhat archaic touchscreen, it’s worth a look.

Pick10 — Toyota Camry

What hasn’t been said about the Toyota Camry? Its reputation for reliability and ability to transport its occupants in unequivocal comfort is unmatched for the price this side of a Lexus.

I will add an unlikely trait: Superb chassis. No seriously. Since the Camry was redesigned for 2025, it has been a stonker to drive. A hybrid-only powertrain delivers that jump off the line in either front-wheel or all-wheels driven. Plus the added benefit of fuel economy that sees mileage hover in the forties and fifties. Well-tuned suspension dampening means the Camry never loses out on its trademark plush ride.

A generous roster of amenities encompassing a dual-pane sunroof and red leather seats make it hard to justify buying a Lexus. For that reason alone, the Toyota Camry made the final cut for 2026.

Closing thoughts? At least a couple of these models are controversial. The fact remains, each of these cultivated a following based on traits that make every car worth keeping. As Sped grows, so will the criteria for what will make the Pick10 roster next year.

Right now, we’re walking before we can run.

-TA