Brett Berk
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Contributor to @VanityFair @ArchDigest, @Billboard, @MensHealthMag, @TravelLeisure, @Departures, @Luxury, @ShowBoatsMag. Cars, mostly. Also known as @GayUncle.
Articles by Brett Berk
To Make More Money, Rolls-Royce Is Aiming Higher on Price, Not Production
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load. To Make More Money, Rolls-Royce Is Aiming Higher on Price, Not Production The luxury carmaker is expanding its factory in Britain to focus on rarefied custom cars. First up is a $3.5 million-plus electric roadster. Rolls-Royce’s Project Nightingale EV will be limited to 100 units globally, starting around $3.5 million.
Orlando Bloom and Porsche Design Concours in Photos Original
Published on October 2, 2026 Porsche Design’s most recent commercial project, the Porsche Design Concours, expands on the notion of automotive storage. Click here for the full story. Photo : Porsche Design A rendering of the proposed Porsche Design Concours in West Palm Beach, Fla. Photo : Porsche Design The locations will each include a restaurant and a spa, as well as opportunities for owners to participate in curated driving experiences.
Orlando Bloom on His Connection With Porsche and How He Defines Luxury
Orlando Bloom’s first big automotive splurge was a classic Porsche—a black 911S from 1973. The actor had paid his dues, attending art and drama school in London, going out for auditions, and tooling around town in a forest-green Volkswagen Golf GT he’d bought for 160 pounds sterling. But by his mid-20s, he’d found success with major roles in the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy and decided he wanted to reward himself.
A New Generation of Luxury Turboprops Could Rival Your Private Jet
Former SR-71 Blackbird pilot asked about the biggest myths surrounding the jet and reveals the truth behind them There are a few myths about the iconic Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, some of which are technical, and some were just amusing. Some of these myths are …
A New Generation of Luxury Turboprops Could Rival Your Private Jet Original
Published on September 27, 2026 Turboprops have long maintained a utilitarian reputation. “They can take a lot of weight out of a very short field, a high field, and even an unimproved field,” says industry analyst Brian Foley. “Like a rugged S.U.V.” But a new class of more luxurious and technologically sophisticated turboprops may shift that perception.
‘The Stunt Driver’ Is a Tragicomic Gem About a Canadian Daredevil With a Dream Original
If you are making a movie about the life of Canadian stuntman Ken Carter, one of the climactic scenes would necessarily involve his attempt to drive a rocket-powered, winged 1970s Lincoln Continental up a 90-foot ramp and jump it one mile across the St. Lawrence River, from Ontario to New York State. Given the hairbrained nature of this endeavor, it’s not a spoiler to say that he didn’t make it, and the car landed in the water.
Driving the 1990 Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II
At first, I was gentle with the 1990 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II. After all, when Frank Scheibner from Mercedes Heritage handed over the keys at this year’s Monterey Car Week festivities, he told me two things. First, that the costliest one of these ultra-rare Baby Benzes—only 502 were made for a single model year—had sold at auction for over a half-million dollars. Second, that after a decade-and-a-half of borrowing vehicles from Benz’s classic collection, he had faith in me.
How Deep-Pocketed Patrons Are Keeping Shipwreck Treasure Hunting Alive Original
Published on August 22, 2026 Advances in deep-sea technology—including autonomous underwater vehicles that map the ocean floor and remotely operated craft that explore wrecks—have ushered in a new era of marine discovery. Sunken treasure ships have been located off the coasts of Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. Yet growing resistance to the commercialization of archaeological heritage has made recovery increasingly expensive, contentious, and unlikely to return a profit.
Teen Driving Safety Is About More Than Just Driving School
By lunchtime, the adolescent participants in BMW’s one-day teen driving-school program had already had a range of experiences. The kids, all of whom held a learner’s permit or were recently licensed, began the morning in a classroom with former or current race-car-driver instructors. There, they learned how to properly sit, look, grip the wheel, and adjust their mirrors, along with the basic physics of car control.
Teen Driving Safety Is About More Than Just Driving School
Brazen motorist with no NCT or insurance nabbed speeding at over 130km/h An audacious motorist has been slapped with a court date and had their car seized after they were nabbed speeding at over 130 km/h. Officers in …
We Drive the Brabus Bodo Coupe and Talk with the High-End Tuner’s CEO Original
It seems somehow appropriate that our test drive of the Brabus Bodo takes place on the Pebble Beach property on the weekend during which the Northern California golf resort hosts its eponymous classic-car concours.
1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster wins 2026 Pebble Beach Best of Show
A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster was just deemed Best of Show at the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the apex award at what is arguably the most prestigious classic car show in the world. The car is owned by Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, Ohio, who purchased it three years ago. “I've been trying to buy the car for 40 years,” Yeaggy tells Car and Driver from the stand just after receiving the award.
1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster Wins 2026 Pebble Beach Best of Show
12 hours ago Devin Booker and Nike link up with Chevrolet to drop the Book 2 sneaker collection inspired by his vintage Impala fleet, hitting Woodward Dream Cruise this week. Devin Booker is officially bringing his garage into his sneaker rotation. Today, the Phoenix Suns shooting guard, Nike, and Chevrolet …
1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster Wins 2026 Pebble Beach Best of Show Original
A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster was just deemed Best of Show at the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the apex award at what is arguably the most prestigious classic car show in the world. The car is owned by Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, Ohio, who purchased it three years ago. “I’ve been trying to buy the car for 40 years,” Yeaggy tells Car and Driver from the stand just after receiving the award.
7 auto da collezione guidate dalla Royal Family: c’è anche la Ford Escort di Diana, e vale 850.000 dollari
7 auto da collezione guidate dalla famiglia reale: c’è anche la Ford Escort di Diana. La Royal Family ha sempre avuto un forte legame con le automobili sin da quando la prima auto fu prodotta in Inghilterra. Inizialmente, le auto reali venivano realizzate dalla Daimler Motor Company, fondata nel 1896 come prima casa automobilistica inglese.
Five-Oh! Five-Oh! The Ford Mustang Returns to Cop Duty Original
A sinister form has begun haunting the nation’s highway exit ramps, underpasses, hills, and other cruiser hidey holes. Speeders, beware.
Five-Oh! Five-Oh! The Ford Mustang Returns to Cop Duty
21 hours ago A fresh Agate Gray fastback restomod with Coyote power, a Tremec five-speed, and a full custom chassis under 100 miles old. This 1965 Ford Mustang fastback has been reborn as a modern restomod, keeping the classic silhouette while swapping in a 5.0-liter Coyote V8, a Tremec five-speed, and a fully …
Les voitures mythiques de la famille royale britannique, de la Ford Escort de la princesse Diana à l'Aston Martin du roi Charles
La famille royale britannique entretient un lien étroit avec l’automobile depuis la fabrication du tout premier véhicule en Angleterre. À l’origine, les voitures royales étaient produites par la Daimler Motor Company, fondée en 1896 et considérée comme le premier constructeur automobile anglais.
Jaguar’s Electric Future: Curves Are Out, and Blunt Is In
Jaguar’s Electric Future: Curves Are Out, and Blunt Is In The storied British automaker is going all-electric, and this fall it will unveil its new flagship, with deliveries coming next year. The strategy is distinctive but risky and has drawn some prominent detractors. The Jaguar Type 00 last year in Miami.
Jaguar's Electric Future: Curves Are Out, and Blunt Is In
(Wheels) Jaguar, as it approaches its 90th year, is trying to manifest the future it wants to inhabit. In late 2024, it revealed a revamped visual identity that reflected this imagined destiny, with a bold shift: It would become an all-electric car company.
Range Rover Shows Off the Future of Customized Design
Upon entering the Range Rover “Traces” installation at the Art Noveau Galleria Miravigli in central Milan, one is enclosed in a mirrored room. An evocative sensorial projection is broadcast on four large screens. But it is the infinite reflection of oneself that feels most elemental. The activation is intended to showcase the capabilities of the luxury SUV-maker’s Bespoke service.
Princess Diana's Cars: The Royal Family's Most Iconic Vehicles, From Her Ford Escort to King Charles's Aston Martin
As interest in Princess Diana returns on what would have been her 65th birthday, it's worth revisiting one of the lesser-known aspects of her legacy: Princess Diana's cars – the ones she drove. From her now-famous Ford Escort, which sold for $850,000 at auction, to the Mercedes-Benz that challenged royal convention, her vehicles became as much a part of her story as her enduring style.
Why Mercedes-Benz Believes Americans Are Ready for an Electric Luxury Minivan
Zygan also sees the VLE's potential serving five-star resorts or hotels, which could use the large rear screen to personally welcome visitors, display or arrange an itinerary, and complete their check-in en route. Additionally, it could be used for shuttling celebrities attending gala events, a role the Sprinter has assumed in recent years.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class Remains Relevant Today And We Take A Bunch Of Its Ancestors For A Spin
Mercedes-Benz just unveiled a new S-Class, a significant update on the outgoing car, which went into production back in 2020. But the three-pointed star brand, which is celebrating its 140th birthday this year, has been producing vehicles under this moniker for eight generations, since 1972, and top-tier predecessors dating back nearly to the early 20th century, when the German company helped invent the luxury automobile. Watch Hemmings videos without ads here.
Yes, Someone Is Researching If Smell Makes Racing Drivers Faster Original
Photograph by Emiliano Granado and Illustration by Jason Holley Before sliding into the racing simulator in a basement fabrication shop at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, IMSA GTD Pro driver Max Esterson is asked to strap on some equipment. A chest harness will measure his heart rate, a headband will track his brain activity, and a wristband will detect electrodermal activity, which reflects the activation of sweat glands, a marker for emotional and physical stress responses.
The Devil Wears Prada — and Drives Mercedes Original
Top, from left: Mercedes collaborated with Disney on a cross-platform campaign for The Devil Wears Prada 2, in which Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep, with Stanley Tucci) is chauffeured in a Mercedes-Maybach. Below, from left: James Bond’s Aston Martin DB10 in Spectre; America Ferrera drove a 2024 Chevrolet Blazer SS EV in Barbie.
How Brad Pitt and Mercedes Transformed L.A.’s 6th Street Viaduct into a German Autobahn Original
The Autobahn World Premiere of the all-new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-Door Coupé in Los Angeles. Mercedes-Benz Group AG A tennis ball yellow car ripped across the Sixth Street Bridge in a cloud of tire smoke on Tuesday night. But unlike the traditional hot rods, drag racers, and lowriders that have long made this L.A. River crossing famed among Angeleno automotive enthusiasts, and as a filming location in movies like Grease and Terminator 2, it did so without a honking gasoline-powered engine.
Road Test: The 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Is a Benchmark Sedan We Wish Was More Analog Original
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has, since its introduction more than 50 years ago, been the benchmark in the full-size luxury-sedan market. It is not only the best-selling high-end four-door car in the world, but is seen as a global standard bearer in the category.
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class in Photos Original
Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz AG An example of the 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan. Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz AG Mercedes claims that more than 50 percent of the S-Class—nearly 2,700 parts—has been revised. Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz AG The sculpted slab sides of the S-Class remain elegant as ever. Image Credit: Mercedes-Benz AG The pillowed headrests, neck support, shoulder pads, armrests, and even the seatbelts are delightfully heated.
Are You Elite Enough to Buy a One-Off from Bugatti or Aston Martin? Probably Not Original
From the May/June 2026 issue of Car and Driver. In January, Bugatti unveiled its latest custom-commissioned hypercar from Programme Solitaire, the recherché automaker's one-off-vehicle project. Called the F.K.P. Hommage, the 1578-hp quad-turbo W-16-powered reinterpretation of the Veyron celebrates the Volkswagen Group's revival of the Bugatti brand under former monomaniacal chairman Ferdinand Karl Piëch.
AARP Smart Guide to Letting Go of a Vehicle
You have plenty of options when it comes to getting rid of your car. Read on to learn about them. AARP (Shutterstock, 2) Key takeaways For most Americans, owning and driving a vehicle is a necessity. This is particularly true for older adults, for whom an automobile is often a lifeline to independence, community, well-being and engagement. That’s what makes the decision to get rid of a car so difficult.
Jaguar's electric sedan prototype seems pretty great. Will anyone care?
Brett Berk THE VENERABLE BRITISH AUTOMAKER IS STAKING ITS FUTURE ON A GRAND SIX-FIGURE ELECTRIC SEDAN. IS THAT WHAT THE MARKET WANTS? The exterior of the broad 16.5-foot sedan is covered in a camouflaging flurry of opposing black and white diagonal slashes that resembleone of Jasper Johns' radical “crosshatch” paintings from the mid-1970s.
Here's Why Jaguar Made Its New Electric Car Feel Like a Vintage V12
Where Jag's been, and where it's going Jaguar was founded in 1935 and was best known in the following nine decades for producing innovative sports cars, coupes and sedans. In recent years, Jaguar chased volume, attempting to go head-to-head against BMW and Audi, with a full line of cars and SUVs. Ultimately, that wasn't a successful strategy and wasn't true to its essence as a challenger and outlier brand.
Jaguar’s Electric Sedan Prototype Seems Pretty Great. Will Anyone Care? Original
The exterior of the broad 16.5-foot sedan is covered in a camouflaging flurry of opposing black and white diagonal slashes that resemble one of Jasper Johns’ radical “crosshatch” paintings from the mid-1970s. The cossetting interior, its narrow rampart-like band of windows mainly covered by this wallpaper, is dark and unfinished, and blanketed in a matted black felt that, notably, reminds me of a magician’s backdrop, meant to absorb light and disguise sleights of hand.
Is Gray Going Away? Experts Say More People Want Brightly Colored Cars Original
Look at almost any parking lot, and you can see it. Nearly 80 percent of American new-car buyers currently choose a neutral "grayscale" hue—white, black, or silver/gray. But more daring colorways are emerging. "Trend data clearly shows the palette evolving rather than stagnating," says Gloria Jover, automotive expert for the New Jersey-based Pantone Color Institute. Notably, the market share of colored car paints has increased by almost two percentage points in recent years.
Is Gray Going Away? Experts Say More People Want Brightly Colored Cars
Volvo’s software troubles are far from over, as 11 models have been mentioned in a new lawsuit. Key Points Class action lawsuit alleges Volvo infotainment systems are faulty and impact key safety features. • Plaintiff claims multiple repairs and software updates failed to resolve persistent …
Here’s the Ultimate Mercedes-Benz SL From Every Generation
The SL class is Mercedes-Benz’s longest-running nameplate, dating back to 1954. It started with the racing-inspired 300 SL, which appeared like a portent from some wondrous future. A convertible version was unveiled simultaneously at the New York Auto Show, and the model has followed the same basic recipe ever since: a sports car hosting the marque’s most powerful engines, leading-edge technology, and luxury materials, built stolidly for cruising the world’s most exclusive postal codes.
LeBron James Is on “a Hell of a Ride.” Now He's Got a New Maybach for the Journey.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer has owned vehicles from Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Rolls-Royce. Now he unveils the latest addition to his collection: a one-off Mercedes-Maybach S 680. As a young boy growing up in Akron, Ohio, LeBron James was motivated to succeed in part by his desire for a vehicle that would signify his achievements. “Me and my friends used to play this game, bingo,” he tells Vanity Fair. If a desirable car went by, whoever was first to say “bingo” “owned” that vehicle.
The E-Nose Knows: AI Learns to Smell
Among the possible implications are restoring a sense of smell, and sniffing out potential health concerns AI can already see, hear, read and speak. Now researchers are teaching it to smell. Over the past few years, scientists have been developing and refining a technology called the e-nose—which is exactly what it sounds like.
tovima.com - Breaking News, Analysis and Opinion from To Vima’s International Edition
AI can already see, hear, read and speak. Now researchers are teaching it to smell. Over the past few years, scientists have been developing and refining a technology called the e-nose—which is exactly what it sounds like. These systems detect and distinguish aromas, sometimes with about 1,000 times as much precision as humans can, and without the loss of sensitivity that comes when our noses get accustomed to an odor.
Get Me to the Dolby! How Stars Arrive at the Oscars on Time and in One Piece
Amy Sancetta/AP Images; AP Images; Eric Ford/Getty Images; Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images; UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images When you’re ferrying hundreds of A-listers to the Academy Awards, the last thing you want is rain. If it pours, the convoy of chauffeured vehicles slows, gridlock ensues and the up-to-the-second schedule for red carpet arrivals collapses. Plus, it’s not safe.
Woolf Barnato's Bentley Speed Six "Blue Train" in Photos Original
Image Credit: Bentley Motors Limited Driving the 1930 Bentley Speed Six “Blue Train” Sportsman coupé once owned by one of the original Bentley Boys, Woolf Barnato. Image Credit: PA Images Archive/Getty Images Woolf Barnato, circa 1929. Image Credit: MacGregor/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images Woolf Barnato is the only person that entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans on more than one occasion and had a 100 percent win record, having finished first in the famed endurance race three times in the 1920s.
We Rode in a Legendary Bentley, But Its Claim to Fame May Be Faulty Original
Driving along Northern California’s coast in the rakish Bentley Speed Six Sportsman coupé, I can almost imagine that I’m Woolf Barnato, one of the original Bentley Boys—a loose association of wealthy Jazz Era cads who raced Bentleys for adventure. Barnato is the only person that entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans on more than one occasion and had a 100 percent win record, having finished first in the famed endurance race three times in the 1920s.
Paolo Dellachaa, the New CEO of Pininfarina, Has Been Waiting a Long Time for This Original
Like many of us, Paolo Dellachá grew up with posters of Ferraris on his wall. And, in staring at them over the years, he noticed a little detail. “They had this particular label on the on their side, Designo di Pininfarina,” Dellachá says. This badge clearly lodged in his brain. Trained as a mechanical engineer, after decades working at Ferrari and Maserati, has now risen to the role of CEO of the venerable Italian design house. How does he feel about this? “A lot of respect.
How Pedal-Assist Mini-Trucks Are Transforming Cities
Climbing onto the Honda Fastport eQuad is, quite literally, just like getting on a bicycle, except easier. With four wheels and broad diamond-plate running boards on either side, ingress and egress is as simple as swinging my leg over and stepping on and off the pedals, no kickstands involved. This makes sense, as the e-bike-based mini box-truck has been custom designed and constructed by the Japanese transportation company for the constant stop-and-go of urban e-commerce package delivery.
The ‘Porsche Barn,’ Explained for the Rest of Us Original
Barns were once built for horses. But what about horsepower? While many custom homes now incorporate car storage in novel ways, allowing residents to peer at their vehicles, or even to park them in their living space, the Porsche barn—it always seems to be Porsches, though other luxury sports cars are welcome—is suddenly poised to become a digging-out-the-basement-for-an-indoor-pool-like high-end residential trend.
Mercedes-Benz Design Chief Gorden Wagener Picks His Greatest Hits—and One Miss Original
Mercedes-Benz Group AG After nearly 30 years working with Mercedes-Benz and nearly two decades leading the venerable German brand's various design operations, Gorden Wagener will be stepping down as chief design officer on January 31. On the occasion of his retirement, Car and Driver had a one-on-one chat with Wagener to discuss his lengthy tenure. "I came from VW, and I wasn't quite happy there—I was always drawing Mercedes cars for fun," Wagener says.
Why New Cars Look So Huge Original
Illustration by Ilias Walchshofer Many car designs elicit comparisons to animal forms. The fauna that the BMW 7-series brings to mind, however, form an inelegant chimera. The battery-electric BMW i7 gets a lot of flack—all deserved—for its monstrous fascia.
At-Home Services to Get You Safely Through the Winter
Bad weather can make it difficult or dangerous to go out. Here are services that come to you to get you through the winter. AARP (Getty Images, 4) Winter is upon us and, with it, the challenges of getting out of the house for supplies. But according to Jennifer Szakaly, a certified life care manager in North Carolina, older adults can ease the season’s impact by using services that bring the outside world and your needs directly to your home.
Jaguar Knows You're Shocked By Its New Car. But It's Not Going Back Original
I had a lot of questions for Rawdon Glover, the managing director at Jaguar. I wanted to ask him how the storied British marque was handling a controversial brand reboot, the departures of its longtime design talent, and its pivot to producing solely premium electric vehicles at a time when demand for that sort of thing feels far more uncertain than it did a year ago. But we couldn’t get the video conference call to work right.
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