By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

You have to wonder who at Ford was able to convince the folks at Edmunds that the 2015 Mustang will be 15 inches shorter, 6.5 inches narrower and 400 pounds lighter. They should get a medal. Even a quick glance at spy photos of the car shows a vehicle that is nearly as long and just as wide as the current model.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 24, 2013) During my college and early professional years I owned a 1980 Ford Fiesta S, and loved it. The 1.6-liter Kent engine and four-speed manual driving the front wheels worked together like accomplished dance partners, and the 88 horsepower underhood was enough to push the diminutive hatchback from 0-60 mph in 10 seconds.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 17, 2013) GM will debut its new three-cylinder engine at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show debuting in the Opel Adam (pictured above). The turbocharged direct-injected triple is a direct competitor to Ford’s similarly sized three-cylinder turbo motor that will make its U.S. debut in the 2014 Fiesta.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 9, 2013) Dog owners visiting the Ferrari Museum in Maranello don’t have to worry about leaving their pooch at home. The four-legged friends won’t be able to run unescorted through the museum, but they will have a special place to stay while their owners are admiring the sheetmetal on display.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 28,2013) Let’s not beat around the bush. This Mini Vision concept is a stylized look at what the next production Mini will look like. There will be no disco interior lighting on the floor, the side trim will be less effusive, and also less well integrated. Up front, the LED halos around the headlights will remain (a design motif first seen on the Rocketman concept), but the grille and bumper beam will not be as subtle due to the bumper beam’s intended function; it must be prominent to ward off low-speed accident damage.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 14, 2013) The i3 is BMW’s first ground-up electric vehicle for public sale. Whether or not it will be a commercial success is something that the future will decide. However, the level of technology to be found in this rear-engine/rear-drive EV surpasses anything on the road, and brings structural carbon fiber to volume automotive production in concert with both aluminum and magnesium.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(June 16, 2013) With the death of the Maybach franchise, Daimler has removed its self-imposed roadblock on the aspirations of Mercedes. Once the preeminent vehicle in the Mercedes lineup, the S-Class was overshadowed by Maybach in an attempt to compete directly with Rolls-Royce and Bentley via a “more prestigious” brand.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(June 4, 2013) Both BMW Motorrad and the R 90 S are celebrating anniversaries this year. The motorcycle arm of Bavarian Motor Works in 90 years old, and the iconic R 90 S celebrates 40 years since its introduction. In partnership with former motorcycle racer turned custom bike designer Roland Sands, BMW created the Concept Ninety for the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013.