#BrownCarGuy – News, Views & Reviews!
Well, hello 2025. What fresh hell do you have in store for us, eh? One thing no one can take away from us is our imagination. So, let’s picture a world where the simple act of driving has become as complicated and soul-destroying as trying to get through to a human being in customer services. Your call is important to them, they assure you – almost as important as this warning of the dystopian nightmare our motoring future could become.
Year-end; time to reflect, react and contemplate. A tough 12 months, that’s for sure. Didn’t go to plan, that too an understatement. But did it beat me? Nearly. Did it scar me? Definitely. Don’t hesitate to hit play on the video below – my words, SUNO’s sounds. It’s something that you might relate to, it’s something that might soothe, maybe even inspire some hope. But as for reading the rest of this, if you share a state of mind as delicate as mine, best to cease now, and click away. Check out my automotive year in review instead, it’s kinda funny. It may amuse and distract. But peruse below only at your peril.
2024 has been a crazy year for the car world – it’s been madder than an Uber driver on an airport run during peak London rush hour, nastier than a two-day-old petrol station tuna sandwich, and more confused than a glitchy driverless Tesla trying to find its way out of a car park.
It’s not every day you hear two automotive giants like Honda and Nissan mentioned in the same sentence with the word “merger.” But that’s exactly what’s happening, according to a report from Nikkei. Two of Japan’s biggest car manufacturers are reportedly in preliminary talks to join forces, and if this goes ahead, it could be one of the biggest shake-ups the car industry has seen in decades.
There’s been a lot of chatter about Nissan lately. Doom-laden headlines about financial turmoil, production cuts, and whispers of collapse have been doing the rounds. Some are even saying that the legendary Japanese automaker, the one responsible for icons like the GT-R, Z cars, and the mighty Patrol, could disappear within the next 12 months. That’s a big claim. Could this really be the end for Nissan? Well, not so fast.
Jaguar. The name itself purrs with sophistication, elegance, and a dash of roguish charm. But recently, the big cat has been making waves – not for its legendary heritage, but for a rebrand and concept car so bold it’s got everyone scratching their heads like a puzzled moggy. Is this the future of luxury motoring, or has Jaguar strayed too far from the tree? And is ‘making waves’ just another way of saying ‘drowning’ with no hope of rescue?
After months of mounting pressure, the government has confirmed a rethink of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate—a policy that has left the car industry in turmoil.
Jaguar has taken what many might call a… er… extraordinary decision – and that’s putting it politely! The once-proud purring cat of British motoring has decided to slink away into the shadows for a while, taking a ‘sabbatical’ until at least 2026. While doing so, it’s exploring its sexuality, applying makeup, dressing in a tutu, and practising pouting for selfies.
Some people dream of driving exotic cars. Others dream of writing about them. And then there’s Shafiq Abidin, who’s managed to land one of the coolest jobs, In The World – Top Gear staff writer. But the journey from a student interviewing me during Covid to being a year-in to one of the most coveted car jobs out there, has not been without challenges and disappointments. It almost never happened, but this young talent fought for his goals, pushing past cultural expectations, imposter syndrome, and countless rejections to make it happen. His story? It’s as inspiring as it is relatable.
As a motoring journalist and avid tech enthusiast, I’ve find myself fascinated and captivated by the evolution of AI and robotic technology and, of course, its impact on our lives. Chiefly in the context of being a car guy, it raises an additional concern for me – where does it leave the now relatively humble automobile if we have a super-intelligent all-singing, all-dancing robot to do all our bidding, and essentially eliminate our need to even leave the house?
