Nico DeMattia

Writer at The Drive

I write things for The Drive, car guy, idiot. My tweets and opinions are my own, my wife tells me. he/him

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Articles

Over-Styled Cars Are Quickly Forgotten, Says Design Guru Donckerwolke

6 days ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

We live in an interesting time for car design. Some brands are going for ultra-minimalism, like Tesla, while others are opting for more exaggerated vehicles. BMW comes to mind, for example. Both extremes stem from the desire to make brands stand out from the crowd, especially in a hotly contested global market. Upstart American and Chinese EV companies are desperately fighting to establish a name for themselves, and the fastest way to do that is through bold, over-the-top design.
One Rebuild and a New V6 Later, Toyota Tundra Owner Says His Truck Still Stalls

6 days ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

Toyota, once the shining example of automotive reliability, has damaged its reputation in recent years with costly mistakes. Chief among those mistakes is the leftover machining debris inside the 2022-2023 Tundra’s twin-turbo V6, an engine that enthusiasts were already skeptical of since it replaced a bulletproof 5.7-liter V8. Toyota recalled more than 100,000 of these engines last year and announced it would replace them all, which it’s still in the process of doing.
One Audi A6 Has Racked Up $57K in NYC Speeding Fines Since 2024

6 days ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

There’s a black 2023 Audi A6 that can’t seem to stop speeding through Brooklyn, as its driver accumulated 563 speed camera tickets in school zones alone last year, according to Transportation Alternatives, a public transit advocacy group. The site compiled a list of the top 10 school-zone speeders across New York City, and they’re all drivers of pretty ordinary cars; less than half of the order is made up of luxurious or relatively sporty rides.
2025 Tesla Model 3 Performance Review: Quick As Heck but Not a Driver’s Car

6 days ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

OK, let’s try this one more time. Last summer, I drove a Tesla for the first time. It was a standard Model 3 dual-motor, but the then-newly refreshed “Highland” version. I’d built up what Teslas are supposed to feel like in my mind, based on what I’d heard from journalists I respect, but it ended up falling far short of my expectations. But I felt like there were good bones there, a base on which to build something special.
2025 Porsche 911 GT3 Is the Fastest Manual Production Car Ever Around the Nurburgring

1 week ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

Dual-clutch transmissions might be faster than good, old-fashioned manuals on track, but that doesn’t mean that three-pedal sports cars can’t still be flipping quick, as Porsche just proved. The new 2025 911 GT3 Weissach Package (992.2 generation) with a manual transmission just recorded an official 6:56.294 lap time around the Nürburgring. That’s a surprising 3.7 seconds faster than the previous PDK-equipped GT3.
2,031-HP Hennessey Venom F5 Evolution Claims 0 to 200 MPH in 10 Seconds

1 week ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

Is your Hennessey Venom F5, with its 1,817 horsepower and 1,193 lb-ft of torque, just not powerful enough? Hennessey has you covered if that’s the case, because the Texas-based company just unveiled its latest creation: the Hennessey Venom F5 Evolution, and it produces 2,031 horsepower. That makes it the most powerful internal combustion car, making all that power from its twin-turbocharged V8 alone. No hybrid assistance. No electrification. Pure piston power.
2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness Adds Trail-Ready Features and a Monster Truck Face

1 week ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

With the 2026 Subaru Outback comes a new Wilderness model that’s more off-road-capable and aggro-looking than just about any other Subie ever made. It boasts improved four-wheeling chops and an upgraded engine, which I’ll get to in a minute. But first, let’s talk about that face. The first thing you’ll notice is the new grille with big, plastic, vertical bars flanking either side that give off a bumper guard vibe.
This Lotus Elise Safari Build Is Made for Tackling Trails (and Potholes)

1 week ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

This is one trend I’ll never get tired of. Making rugged safari vehicles out of low-slung, purpose-built sports cars just doesn’t get old. Mad geniuses keep thinking of new models to jack up, and this one from British outfit Get Lost might be my favorite yet: a Lotus Elise S1. Not only does it look like a blast, but it’s also the perfect two-seat convertible for those of us in the Northeastern United States as spring sets in.
The 14-Year-Old Dodge Durango May Hang Around Until 2028-and Keep the Hemi V8

1 week ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

When Dodge finally puts this current-generation Durango SUV out to pasture, it will be as old as the dino-fuel it runs on. It’s already 14 years old, having debuted in 2011, which is ancient in the car world. Models are typically completely refreshed or put down in half that time. But according to Mopar Insiders, this third-gen Dodge Durango will stick around until 2028, making it 17 years old when it finally ends. Furthermore, it should keep the Hemi V8, too.
F1 Rookie Kimi Antonelli Can’t Drive His New Mercedes-AMG GT Because He’s 18

1 week ago | thedrive.com | Nico DeMattia

Rookie Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli is just 18 years old, and he’s already been given the monumental task of replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes-AMG. One of the perks of the job is a company car. But unlike the typical executive sedan, Antonelli’s ride is reportedly a Mercedes-AMG GT 63. Pretty sweet, right? Unfortunately, the teenager’s excitement might be tempered, as he isn’t even allowed to drive it back home in Italy because of a new law that only took effect in December.