As a writer that focuses on the automobile, this is the question I hate being asked. First of all, it may expose a bias or preference of one brand over another. I’d like to keep biases out of my work as much as possible, unless something rubbed me the wrong way. It also frees up any brand loyalty that would spark major debates with other motorheads as to defend said brand even though I know the arguments against them.
You can imagine how many contenders were for each year. Selecting one was tough, but I also did not want to repeat myself year-after-year with the same vehicle or brand. That was how the last list was set up.
The good news is that it is still with us. It’s debut in 2014 helped put Lexus at par with other luxury compact SUVs at the time. Although it is due for an all-new model soon, the current NX is familiar enough to warrant another look.
Obviously, the most popular lists on this website revolve around the vehicles I had worked with. My Favorite Vehicles of [insert year here] are ones that fulfill your questions year after year. And, every year, you have opinions on it.
Some will look at it from the lens of the global headlines. Headlines not worth repeating for the sake of keeping us in good spirits. Some will look at the overall challenge of navigating a year full of curve balls and emotional rollercoasters.
In the meantime, the automotive retail business has been working overtime to reinvent itself. They are hungry for inventory, while production is ramping up under safer conditions along the assembly lines. Used cars are becoming scarce, with some auction facilities laying off personnel. However, the rental car companies are trying to reduce excess fleet in the pall of financial issues due to a reduction in travel.
One of them will be the year of "thinning the herd," which, sadly, can be taken many ways. However, this term is apt for something that have been a trend in the North American automotive market – the elimination of models from their respective lineups.
Over four generations, Lexus provided owners many flavors of the GS sedan without diluting its intended mission. There had been hybrids, and an assortment of non-electrified powerplants ranging from turbocharged four-cylinders to powerful V8s. The sedan's performance promise has never deviated from the expectations of its owners.
When the world started shutting down, automobile sales went down by nearly half the volume from the year prior. In latter months, sales performance has improved. Some retailers reported better sales numbers than last year in the same month.
Neither of these vehicles register deeply as the one that was revealed on Monday night. There is a significance and meaning to this one. Nine years ago, this was the first vehicle presented to me for publication by a manufacturer. Granted it was the coupe/convertible version of that car, but it still holds a very dear place in my heart and my resume.