Karl Brauer

California, Los Angeles

Contributor at Forbes

Executive Analyst at iSeeCars.com

Fanatic regarding all things car- or motorcycle-related. After many years in the auto industry...I’m ready for more!

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Articles

Test Driving The New 2025 Polestar 3 Single Motor Model

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Karl Brauer

Say “hello” to the newest version of the Polestar 3, which follows the Dual Motor version that’s been out for a while. The 2025 Polestar 3 Single Motor model costs less and has a longer range, but it also has far less power. Does it sacrifice so much performance that it’s not worth the reduced cost and the extra range it offers, or do those things balance out and this ends up being a better version of the car? That’s why we drove it -- to find out.
Paint Protection Film (PPF): Stopping You Car’s Aging Process

4 weeks ago | forbes.com | Karl Brauer

What if you could end your car’s aging process? Actually freeze its current condition and stop it from getting any older? That may sound impossible, but if you practice a combination of dutiful maintenance and purposeful cosmetic protection you’ll be astonished at not only how long your car lasts, but at how signs of its aging process vanish.
McLaren W1 Supercar Lands At Jay Leno’s Garage

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Karl Brauer

Sergio Perez’s ex-engineer reveals true ramifications of being Max Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, ‘sad to see…’The 2024 season would become Sergio Perez’s last in Formula 1 after a dramatic turn in form in which the Mexican failed to finish in the points for …
McLaren W1 Supercar Lands At Jay Leno’s Garage

1 month ago | forbes.com | Karl Brauer

This is my second story on the McLaren W1 supercar, which begs the question: why am I doing a second story on a vehicle I already covered during its world debut? Probably because the W1 is a pretty big deal, and not just for McLaren but for the entire supercar category.
Test Driving The 2025 Lexus IS 500 In All Its Throwback Glory

1 month ago | forbes.com | Karl Brauer

The 2025 Lexus IS 500 sits on one of the oldest platforms in the automotive industry. But does that mean it’s not desirable or competitive against newer designs? Let’s take a closer look at this entry luxury sedan and find out. Probably the most important thing to keep in mind with the 2025 Lexus IS 500 is that it’s sitting on a 12-year-old chassis. This car was last redesigned in 2014, which is really an eternity in modern-day automotive engineering. Now, why would Lexus do that?
Leasing vs. Buying a Car: Which Option Is Best for You?

2 months ago | bottomlineinc.com | Karl Brauer |Robert Michelin

Think new cars cost too much these days? Here’s a surprise…at the start of 2025, you could lease a brand-new Fiat 500e for a price that would fit anyone’s budget—$0 down and $0 per month. A dealership in Denver did offer that hard-to-beat price, though only to Colorado residents—and technically, the cars weren’t free due to taxes.
Test Driving The New PHEV 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed

2 months ago | forbes.com | Karl Brauer

Bentley just introduced its first electrified Continental. The new, appropriately-named 2025 Bentley Continent GT Speed pairs a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor to arrive at 771 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. A 21.8 kWh battery and plug-in charging allow the Bentley Continental GT to travel up to 40 miles, and up to 87 mph, on pure electricity, allowing ultra-luxury drivers to reduce their CO2 output during local errands.
Test Driving The 2025 Toyota 4Runner SUV

2 months ago | forbes.com | Karl Brauer

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner, one of the most celebrated SUVs on the market, has just been redesigned. The 4Runner has a 40-year history of delivering adventure to off-road fans, and the all-new model landed at Toyota dealerships in early 2025. It represents the sixth generation of Toyota’s midsize SUV, and is the final all-new model to be launched on Toyota’s latest body-on-frame “TNGA” platform (following the Tundra, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, and Tacoma).
Test Driving The 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Electric SUV

2 months ago | forbes.com | Karl Brauer

The all-new 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S just arrived at dealerships. Don’t let the model year throw your — the Wagoner S is brand new, despite having last model year’s designation (blame the delay on the recent turbulence at parent company Stellantis). This is Jeep’s first pure electric vehicle, and it rides on the same Stellantis “STLA” platform used for the all-new, all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona (that also carries a 2024 model year) we tested last month.
Best Time of Year to Buy a Car

Jan 24, 2025 | bottomlineinc.com | Karl Brauer |Robert Michelin

Are you wondering when is the best time to buy a car? The answer is simple. Just follow the thermometer-based car-shopping rule of thumb—when temperatures are low, so are car prices. Car shoppers are more likely to find good deals in the cold-weather months of December, January and February than at any other time of year, according to a recent study by automotive research website iSeeCars.com.* November and March may come close.