TABLE OF CONTENTS DECEmBEr 2021
COLUMNISTS 20. Ezra Dyer midlife pickup. 22. Elana Scherr back to school.
UPFRONT
11. Tunnel Vision A “hole” new way of looking at aerodynamics. 14. Rugged Philosophy Land Rover teaches us about existentialism. 16. Three-Timer Your bmW m550i is quicker now. You’re welcome. 18. Famous Wrappers Cars as gifts.
T H E R U N D OW N
61. 2022 Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance Lucid pulls an impressive 1111-hp eV sedan out of thin air. 64. 2022 Ford Maverick Small truck, tall order. 70. 2021 Honda Civic Type R vs. 2022 Volkswagen Golf R R-rated hatchbacks. 74. 2022 Lexus NX350 AWD Aim for the middle. 76. 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander S-AWC Unroguishly roguish. 78. 2021 McLaren Sabre Plan 15 from outer space.
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4. Backfires American drivers share thoughts on the American Driver issue. 84. Car and Driver Alex macDonald builds himself a sports car.
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Backfires
The joyful noise of the commentariat, rebutted sporadically by Ed. FLYING DUTCHMAN I like to keep things in perspective, but I have to wonder where you got the miniature Dave VanderWerp behind the wheel of the flying Bronco on the cover of your September 2021 issue? And is the full-size version also as calm when airborne? This one looks totally at peace with his environment. —John Baguley Spring, TX Re: your September cover. Is the magazine now called Truck and Driver? I’ve loved it as Car and Driver since I bought my first C/D subscription from David E. Davis for $4 at a folding card table in the parking lot during the 12 Hours of Sebring in the ’60s. That was a lot of money then, but it was, and is, money well spent. Keep it up. —Wade Genthner West Orlando, FL We can see from the photo on page 38 that the Bronco comes equipped with lap and shoulder belts in
compliance with federal safety requirements. But the driver in the cover photo seems to be unrestrained. —Robert Cupina Reston, VA You have a vivid imagination—Ed. The airborne Ford Bronco on your September cover makes me think that a more accurate title for your magazine would be Car and Drivel. —David Leinsdorf Crested Butte, CO Ah, the ever-so-original renaming letter—Ed.
ISSUE ISSUES Dear Time magazine: Thank you so much for all the wonderful social and economic topics covered in the September 2021 issue! It was so thrilling to read about charging stations, citizens’ opinions on the future of the auto industry, New Yorkers who have bought cars, how police officers are systemically racist, and supply-chain issues in manufacturing! I did notice, however, that
you had sprinkled a couple of articles about cars and trucks in your issue—what’s up with that? I didn’t subscribe to your magazine to feed my passion for cars; I have a subscription to Car and Driver for that. —Kevin H. Cincinnati, OH I don’t even know where to begin with this terrible issue. Two social-justice-themed articles and utterly boring pieces about the frunk and driving in New York City, with only two road tests, one comparo, and all other vehicle reviews relegated to mere footnotes. Don’t you understand that people have hobbies and interests to escape politics and agendas? Ever since Eddie Alterman left the helm, this magazine has been in decline. I don’t know if it’s an activist editor-in-chief or your Hurst overlords, but it sucks. —N. Mueller Canton, GA Hurst is certainly known for its shifts—Ed.
SI C YO UR D OGS O N U S AT: ED ITORS@ CARAN DD RIV ER.COM ~ D eCembeR 2021 ~ CAR AND DRIV eR
