Welcome back to “The Drive” with Alan Taylor. His first contributor is long-time friend and fellow car enthusiast BJ Killeen, an automotive journalist. Today, BJ discussed a few topics, such as Lotus’s financial challenges. The company delivered 576 cars last year and incurred losses of over $186 million. Lotus hoped to transition to selling electric vehicles but has not been successful. Volkswagen’s CEO, Martin Winterkorn, is facing trial for fraud and market manipulation related to the emissions test scandal. Lastly, Volkswagen is planning to reveal the next generation electric vehicle from the Scout brand on October 24th, featuring tactile controls. the trend of screen-based operations in modern vehicles. This move is welcomed by many who prefer physical controls for essential functions in a car.



Up next in the hot seat is contributor George Kennedy III – Co-founder of Cartender.com, and the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association. He contributes to U.S. News & World Report, CarGurus, Forbes Wheels, and, of course, here on The Drive. George had a great time test-driving the new 2025 Nismo Z by Nissan. This car is known for its high performance, boasting 420 horsepower and upgraded brakes, suspension, and chassis. George really enjoyed how fast the car can go and how well it handles turns. He prefers cars with 300 to 400 horsepower, and the Nismo Z fits the bill. Although it only comes with an automatic transmission, George thinks the quick and precise gear changes make up for the lack of a manual option. He also checked out the 2024 Mercedes-Benz E Class and compared it to the BMW 5 Series. He found that the 5 Series focuses more on performance, while the E Class prioritizes comfort. George likes the stylish look of the E Class but thinks the high-tech interior could be easier to use. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E Class starts at $62,000 for the base model and $68,000 for the E4Matic 450 sedan. The latter comes with a more powerful engine, all-wheel drive, and luxury features like heated and cooled seats, panoramic moonroof, power trunk, and advanced screens with wireless phone integration drive, and luxury features such as heated and cooled seats, panoramic moonroof, power trunk, and advanced screens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.



Up next is Lauren Fix – Editor in-Chief for Car Coach Reports. She has a special surprise guest, Merrick Styles from Abbey Road Studios, representing Bowers and Wilkins at the Volvo EX90, showcasing a new 2025 audio system. Bowers and Wilkins is known for car audio and partnered with Abbey Road studios to include Abbey Road’s sound in the car audio system. Merrick explained that they made an iPad app using professional audio tools from recording engineers and producers to adjust the sound inside the car cabin. Lauren Fix and Karl Brauer discussed the Pebble Beach event, highlighting the many new car launches and innovations. Notable car debuts included the new Lincoln Navigator with innovative features, the redesigned BMW M5, and the Maserati GT2 Stradale. They mentioned the 50th-anniversary Porsche 911 and new models by Singer and Lamborghini. The event showcased a wide range of impressive cars and exciting developments in the automotive industry. Lauren mentioned a new trend of thieves stealing charging cables from public EV stations due to the high value of copper inside. This has caused inconvenience for EV owners and raised concerns about the practicality and security of transitioning to an all-electric vehicle world. Lauren discusses the shift in the automotive industry towards electric and hybrid vehicles. Many brands, including Ford, Jaguar, and Volvo, are making changes to their vehicle offerings. The demand for hybrids is high, leading manufacturers to focus more on producing hybrid vehicles.