By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 17, 2017) Audi says the Aicon Mobility Concept is a technology demonstrator, “in which the advantages of door-to-door individual transportation are combined with the luxurious ambiance of a first-class cabin.” More than just a robot taxi, the Aicon sits on a wheelbase that, at 136.6 inches, is 9.4 inches longer than that of the new A8, stretches 214 inches overall, is a massive 82.7 inches wide, and stands 59.3 inches tall.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 9, 2017) One upon a time, Mitsubishi was an automaker with a purpose. It built rugged, high-tech cars and trucks that people wanted to own. It had a plant in Illinois, shared technology and platforms (and entire vehicles) with Chrysler, and was Subaru before Subaru was Subaru, with its World Rally Championship Evo models and turbocharged, all-wheel drive Galant VR4s for the street.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 5, 2017) The timing could not have been better. It was time for the annual family get together that kinda sorta takes place at the same time as Cindy’s Uncle Bill’s birthday. His brother Ernie would be there, as would their sister Pat and Cindy’s mom, Helen. It was the perfect backdrop for the car we were driving that week.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(September 1, 2017) We've written about the current generation Volkswagen Passat on numerous occasions — everything from the launch of the U.S. version and the plant that makes it, to the diesel (pre-software cheat discovery), to the one we have here, a 2017 1.8T SE with the Technology package. It’s not like I call every couple of months looking to get into a Passat. I don’t have to.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 27, 2017) Volkswagen premiered its new T-Roc small SUV in Italy this past week. The diminutive SUV is based on the same MQB structure as the Golf and Atlas yet, interestingly for a company that just launched the Atlas and a new Tiguan in the U.S., there are no plans to sell the T-Roc in the U.S., despite the rapid growth of the compact SUV market.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 24, 2017) The A4 appeared as part of a rethink of Audi’s model numbering scheme, replacing the 80/90 in 1996. That car shared its B4 platform with the fourth generation VW Passat, which also featured a longitudinally mounted engine driving the front wheels. Built on a 103-inch wheelbase and spanning 178 inches overall, the B4 Audi placed the brand squarely in the compact luxury segment as its entry-level offering.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 7, 2017) The eighth generation Rolls-Royce Phantom — the second generation under BMW ownership — has been unveiled. Built on a new, unique to Rolls-Royce aluminum spaceframe that can be sized for the requirements of any new model, the new Phantom is built on what Rolls-Royce calls an “Architecture of Luxury” optimized for varied but small-volume production. 

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 6, 2017) Over the past nine generations, Honda’s Accord has gone from a 68-horsepower hatchback that weighed about 2,000 pounds and cost $3,500, to the flagship sedan for the brand. That first car, which added a 72-horsepower sedan variant in 1977, had a five-speed manual or two-speed (upgraded to three speeds in 1980) automatic transmission, and — for the time — a generous list of standard equipment.

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 31, 2017) Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first. The Mercedes X-Class pickup will launch in Europe this November, in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in early 2018, and Argentina and Brazil in 2019. There are no current plans to bring this vehicle — which starts at the equivalent of $35,368 in Europe and is built off the Nissan Frontier/Renault Alaskan — to the U.S.

By Christopher Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 29, 2017) Big news of the week? It’s that the 2018 Ford Mustang GT will do 0-60 mph in less than four seconds in Drag Strip mode, when powered by the revised 5.0-liter V8 mated to a $1,595 optional 10-speed automatic transmission and fitted with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that come with the available $3,995 Performance Pack.