Christopher Smith, Rambling About Cars by Motor1.com Journalist Profile

Articles

From Seat To Mercedes, See The Evolution Of The Popemobile

5 days ago | motor1.com | Emmanuel Touzot |Christopher Smith

All heads of state have special cars. Donald Trump gets around with a huge Cadillac called The Beast, while his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin rolls in a massive Aurus Arsenal. However, people often forget that the Pope is also a head of state. Specifically, he's the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City-State, and when he travels he needs a special vehicle like any other leader.
En büyük tasarım atölyelerinden Italdesign, yeni sahibini arıyor

5 days ago | tr.motor1.com | Christopher Smith

Takvimler 2010 yılını gösterirken, Volkswagen Grubu tarihin en ikonik İtalyan spor otomobillerinden ve süper otomobillerinden bazılarını yaratan tasarım firması Italdesign'ın %90,1 hissesini satın aldı. Satın alma işlemi teknik olarak yine bir VW Grup şirketi olan Lamborghini üzerinden yapıldı ve kısa süre sonra Audi bünyesine devredildi. Ancak, yeni bir rapora göre Almanlar Italidesign'ı elden çıkarmak istiyor.
The World's Coolest Design House Is For Sale: Report

6 days ago | motor1.com | Christopher Smith

In 2010, Volkswagen Group acquired a 90.1 percent stake in Italian auto design firm Italidesign. The purchase was technically done through Lamborghini, also a VW Group company, and is now under the purview of Audi. But that could soon change. The Germans are allegedly looking to sell Italidesign. Union representatives for Italidesign were told the company was already being reviewed as part of due diligence in preparation for a sale, according to Automotive News Europe.
Ce moteur développe au moins 1 515 chevaux, puis il a pris feu

6 days ago | fr.motor1.com | Christopher Smith

Photo: YouTube La saga du puissant moteur à 12 rotors continue. La dernière vidéo de Rob Dahm sur ce monstre de puissance se concentre sur d'autres réglages au banc d'essai, et il y a de bonnes nouvelles à partager. Le moteur est en effet une véritable bête, affichant facilement une puissance et un couple à quatre chiffres. Malheureusement, l'énorme moteur rotatif a pris feu pendant les essais. Et ce n'est pas le seul contretemps du projet.
Volvo Recalls Nearly 500,000 Cars Over a Simple Software Glitch

6 days ago | motor1.com | Christopher Smith

Volvo has issued one of the largest single recalls of the year so far. It affects 413,151 vehicles in the United States and another 40,673 in Canada, going back to the 2021 model year. The problem lies with the backup camera, which may fail to engage when shifting into reverse. This is considered a safety system that fails to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111 for rear visibility, hence the recall. Wondering if your Volvo is affected?
The US Secret Service Can't Drive Stick. GM Is Helping Fix That

6 days ago | motor1.com | Christopher Smith

Photo by: US Secret Service We all know that the US President rides around a big Cadillac nicknamed The Beast. You probably also know that it's not really a Cadillac, but an armored behemoth built on a heavy-duty truck chassis. And should you ever see POTUS on parade, you'll definitely see the convoy that goes along for the journey. It's usually a cavalcade of black Chevrolet Suburbans, with perhaps a SWAT vehicle or two thrown in for good measure.
Which States Have 80 MPH Speed Limits In 2025?

1 week ago | motor1.com | Christopher Smith

North Dakota passed a new law raising its maximum speed limit on certain highways to 80 miles per hour. It goes into effect on August 1, 2025, and covers most sections of Interstate 94 and Interstate 29—the only major highways in the state. Its wide-open plains, straight highways, and light traffic are conducive to higher speeds without undue safety risks, something North Dakota's neighbors learned years ago. North Dakota is the ninth US state to adopt a speed limit of at least 80 mph.
Un altro Stato Usa alza il limite di velocità a 130 km/h

1 week ago | it.motor1.com | Christopher Smith

Il North Dakota è solo l’ultimo di una lista crescente di Stati americani che ha deciso di aumentare il limite di velocità in autostrada. Con una decisione che potrebbe essere seguita presto da altri governi federali, dal 1° agosto 2025 il limite di velocità su alcune tratte autostradali salirà ufficialmente a 80 miglia orarie (circa 129 km/h). South Dakota e Montana l'hanno già adottato e, come detto, altri potrebbero presto seguire l’esempio.
The 2026 Kia Sportage Is Surprisingly Cheap

1 week ago | motor1.com | Christopher Smith

It's common for refreshed vehicles to have price increases. The 2026 Kia Sportage, with its new face and other updates, is no exception. When it goes on sale later this summer, it'll be a bit more expensive than last year. However, the increase is surprisingly reasonable for a refresh, never mind one reaching dealerships amid a tariff war. The 2026 Sportage starts at $28,690.
Another State Joins the 80-MPH Speed Limit Club

1 week ago | motor1.com | Christopher Smith

Those old enough to remember the national 55-mph speed limit have another reason to rejoice. North Dakota will become the next US state to allow legal speeds of 80 mph on stretches of multi-lane highway. And if you're ever been to North Dakota, you know it's a welcome change. The state's legislature passed the new bill last week and was signed into law by Governor Kelly Armstrong on May 5.