Tim Stevens
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timstevens.bsky.social
Tim Stevens
@timstevens.bsky.social
Freelance journo for great places like TechCrunch, The Verge, MotorTrend, Road&Track, Car and Driver, and more. Former EiC at Engadget and CNET's Roadshow. Fiction in Analog SF and elsewhere. Fortune once called me the Nicest Guy in Tech.
Greetings from Stockholm, where I have just issued the worst ever pronunciation of the word "kanelbulle." Alas, it was close enough to score me this beauty, well worth the public shame.

Anyhow, I'm here to see a certain new Volvo. Much more on that tomorrow.
January 20, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Never have I felt less inclined to add something to my cart, Amazon.
January 16, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Google using AI to kill the sources of information that it uses to train its AI is the short-sighted, venemous oruboros of stupidity that 2026 deserves.

pressgazette.co.uk/media-audien...
Global publisher Google traffic dropped by a third in 2025 - Press Gazette
Google search traffic was down globally by a third in the year to November, according to new Chartbeat data.
pressgazette.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Patents are still pending and there’s still a ton of third-party testing ahead, but if Donut Lab’s bold claims at CES hold up, this could be an absolutely pivotal moment in the EV era. Details on that plus the other big automotive news at CES 2026 here:

timstevens.substack.com/p/donut-labs...
Donut Lab’s Solid-State Battery Could be the Most Significant Product I’ve Ever Covered at CES
Or it could be nothing but hype.
timstevens.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Some friendly CES newbie just asked me which hall he should go to to "see some AI".

Bless his heart.
January 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM
If you love everything about the Sony Honda Mobility Afeela 1 but think it's roughly two inches too short to support your active lifestyle, have I got some good news for you -- assuming you're not looking to buy until 2029 or so...

www.engadget.com/transportati...
Sony Honda Mobility’s Afeela Prototype 2026 puts an SUV spin on its too-familiar sedan at CES
Sony has a new Afeela prototype before its first model is ready to ship. Here's what we know.
www.engadget.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Greetings from Las Vegas and CES 2026. Sony Honda Mobility's conference is about to kick off and there's a conspicuously empty turntable up there on stage. The Afeela 1 is about to get some company. Stay tuned... #ces2026
January 6, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Uber definitely needs a "no Teslas" option.

This is for a variety of reasons, but mostly because every Tesla Uber driver I've ever had runs with regen on maximum and they have all the throttle control of an overeager jackrabbit signaling danger.
January 5, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Just stumbled across this in an old duffel bag, my 2003 USGP ticket, flier, and car corral parking pass. I remember being blown away by parking on the back straight of the Indy oval! $75 for premium grandstand tix was a stretch for me back then. Probably would cost 10x that for similar seating today
December 31, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Whew, what a year. In 2025 I flew over 200,000 miles and wrote nearly 280,000 words worth of assignments, chasing stories and reviews all over the world. It's hard to pick favorites, but here’s what stands out.

timstevens.substack.com/p/my-favorit...
My Favorite Cars, Things, Trips, and Toys from 2025
A little look back as we move ahead.
timstevens.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Finally cracking into my hardest fought souvenir from Japan, the 4K remaster of Macross: Do You Remember Love? Took me forever to find a copy in Tokyo.

Been decades since I last saw this. Let's see if I still dislike Minmei after all these years...
December 26, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Merry Christmas from the Stevens household, where I'm trying to teach Koopa to help me bring in wood for the fire. Half the time he runs off with the piece I give him, but we'll get there.
December 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Mostly offline to focus on the family this week, but wanted to quickly share my first byline for The Washington Post, in which I delve into how automotive design studios are mixing old tech and new. Very proud to be a contributor to this storied outlet.

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
How to design a new car in 2026
Sulfurous clay was the tool every car designer used, until virtual reality arrived.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Lots of folks seemed to enjoy my first round of travel tips, so I’m back with more. May they make your journeys a little less stressful.

open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
Simple tips to survive terrible trips: Part 2
More humble advice a weary wanderer.
open.substack.com
December 14, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Gawd, Koopa's ego is probably never going to come back down to earth after this.

Anyhow, we has a blast putting some eco-friendly dog toys and treats to the test for @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us...
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2025/dec/07/best-gifts-ideas-for-dogs
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:40 PM
project. Replaced a few transistors which fixed most of the issues, only to restore power to a shorted coil that then... blew one of the fresh new transistors. Back to the soldering bench.
December 7, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Tim Stevens
The new ix3 sounds agressively weird. @timstevens.bsky.social has the review.

alloymag.com/bmw-ix3-driv...
New Class - Alloy
BMW's ix3 marks a new era for BMW. Is the new SUV any good?
alloymag.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
To those excited about kei cars in the US, please know that there are many superminis in various international markets that could have been sold in the US under current regulations.

By and large, manufacturers don't because nobody here buys them. Changing legality sadly does not create a market.
December 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Look what just showed up from Japan. It's the newest issue of Car Graphic Neo Classic featuring lil ol' me and the story of my imported STI. Amazing to see my car featured like this in such a beautiful magazine. Many thanks to Mike Cutler for the great pics.
December 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I've been a massive fan of the World Rally Championship since the mid '90s, and I'm more amped for this week's season finale than any other round I can remember. Click on through to my latest piece over at Alloy and join me in getting hyped.

alloymag.com/world-rally-...
World Rally Championship's Epic Finale Approaches - Alloy
This week's final round of the 2025 World Rally Championship is shaping up to be the best in decades. Here's why you can't miss it, and how to watch it.
alloymag.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Kudos to one of my local VFDs for battling disinformation on a post regarding a recent vehicle fire that everyone in comments just up and assumed was an EV. (It was a Genesis G70, FYI.)

www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cw4...
November 24, 2025 at 3:18 PM
This week's newsletter is full of variety. open.substack.com/pub/timsteve...
November 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM