01 Yamaha Yzf R6 Rear Rim Wheel 80b on 2040-parts.com

Off the line: Fun cars and social responsibility Autoweek op-ed stands the test of time

It's been almost 21 years to the day that Autoweek printed Matt DeLorenzo's column “Off the Line: There's room for fast, fun cars in diet of social responsibility.” And in those two decades plus, not much has changed except the vehicles themselves. For example, sports cars like the Bugatti Veyron and Pagani Huayra have astronomically high performance and safety levels; similarly, sport-utility vehicles that haul entire families (and most of their earthly possessions) achieve fuel economy similar to that of 1970s midsize sedans. To read all of DeLorenzo's thoughts and his case for automobiles, click the links to download the article.

BMW's Project-i will build 'premium vehicles'

By Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 05 March 2009 16:02 BMW’s much vaunted Project-i will adopt a radical new approach to mass transport for growing urban populations – but only for those that can afford it. 'These vehicles will be premium vehicles,' Project-i leader Dr Ulrich Kranz told CAR at the Geneva motor show. 'They will not be Tata Nano rivals – no way!

Watch Bucky Lasek steal a sheriff's daughter with a Subaru Impreza WRX

Someone at Subaru probably canceled their plans, found enough Mountain Dew to keep them awake, plunked down in a comfy chair and watched the entirety of Grindhouse -- including the fake trailers -- to come up with the above fake trailer. Skateboarding hero Bucky Lasek, who races for Subaru's GRC team, does his best stoner-hippie Johnny Depp impression as he picks up the sheriff's daughter (Instagram "sensation" Kayslee Collins) and proceeds to do donuts around typical Midwestern fare -- and a peeing scarecrow -- in a 2015 Subaru Impreza WRX, made for jumping on dirt, storming through fireballs, being menaced by a shotgun and feeding Lasek donuts while he does donuts himself. You've been warned.