Proof An Old Dog Can Learn New Tricks - 2027 BMW X5 First Drive

Michal studies Automotive Journalism at Coventry University in the UK, and has been writing for CarBuzz since March 2025. He was nominated for student culture piece of the year recently and has been the Vavel.com F1 Editor. He studied Journalism at university to combine his love of writing and cars. Michal's love for cars started when he couldn't sleep as a baby. His father would watch the only thing on TV to help them relax - Formula 1. Since then, he's felt like he's had a V10 ringing in his mind.

America loves trucks. Whether it's a horse trailer or a 30-foot camper, somebody somewhere in the U. S. is hooking it to a pickup right now. On the surface, a full-size truck and a big SUV look cut from the same cloth: both are built for utility, both sit high, and both can pull a trailer. So why are pickups still chosen for big towing jobs? The short answer: pickups are designed to tow more, and the proof shows up even when a truck and an SUV share the same bones. J. D. Power notes the Chevrolet Tahoe is "built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup," yet the 2026 Tahoe tops out at 8,400 pounds while the Silverado 1500 is rated for 13,300 pounds. Ford's lineup tells the same story, with the 2026 Expedition maxing out at 9,600 pounds and the 2026 F-150 at 13,500 pounds. SUVs can tow, but they reach their limits sooner, and Consumer Reports warns against towing "at or near your vehicle's capacity. "

Nigel first entered the world of automotive journalism in the mid-80s, working for what was then the “bible” of weekly automotive content - Motoring News. Those were the days of tip-tap typewriters, landline telephones and proper news cycles. Social media was yet to become a modern-day plague and people waited for their automotive news until Tuesday mornings. Nigel has remained a gearhead since the early days in London. He's enjoyed a variety of roles in marketing, PR and events with such storied brands as Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini. He has spent much of adult life in the United States, but currently resides in (a much colder) United Kingdom.

Gerhard started his career in automotive journalism in 2010, after finishing degrees in Communication, English, and Politics, and diplomas in Film and Art Appreciation and Graphic Design. He's currently a senior editor with experience in local and global coverage, and more than 1,000 test cars driven. He started his career at CarBuzz in January 2021. Most cars bleed value the moment they leave the dealership lot — but the last-generation Subaru WRX STI has been quietly rewriting that rule. While the broader used-car market has normalized after years of pandemic-era volatility, this discontinued performance sedan continues to hold — and in some cases grow — its value in ways that would embarrass far more exotic machinery. High-mileage examples have shed far less of their original MSRP than you'd expect, and the lowest-mileage units are routinely selling for more than their sticker price ever was.

There's something special about driving down a beach; the slight squeak of sand under your tires, the murmur of the crashing waves, the feel of your vehicle working just a little bit harder, all make you feel like part of the beautiful wild scenery. The early sand racers of Daytona knew the feeling. The 1960's dune buggy culture of Southern California made driving on beaches even cooler. In Texas, drivers embrace beaches in a big way, enjoying over 200 miles of drivable beaches. Texans so enjoy their access to beaches that they coded public access into state law in 1959 with the Open Beaches Act. In 2009, Texans voted with a 76.9% approval rate to add it to the state constitution. Essentially, the area from the low tide line to the line of continuous vegetation is public domain that can not be impeded. The Texas General Land Office is charged with enforcing the Act, and local jurisdictions have some say on what "public access" means to them. There are stipulations such as public safety needs or environmental concerns, for example, which allows a municipality to restrict driving on beaches.

Born in Germany in the late 1870s, the Duesenberg brothers — Frederick (Fred) and August (Augie) – would move to America and make some of the time's most luxurious and innovative cars. One of their earliest ventures included opening a garage in Iowa circa 1903 – which is where they landed after immigrating. During this time, Fred and August were modifying and racing cars. Now, we're skipping a lot of steps here, but after gaining a reputation as brilliant engineers — and developing motors for the military during World War I – the brothers found themselves in New Jersey. The Garden State proved to be fertile soil for the two, as that's where the first Duesenberg straight-8 engine was created.